WW1 WW2 FRENCH M1886 LEBEL/ROSALIE RIFLE SWORD BAYONET & SCABBARD

Offered is a genuine 1886 Pattern Lebel sword/bayonet & scabbard.

The bayonet features removable silver alloy grips, with the locking lug (working). Metal quillon and muzzle ring showing issue numbers & manufacturer/acceptance stamps. The cruciform thrusting 52cm long blade in very good condition, with little or no wear. The metal scabbard is in very good condition, with no dents or damage and retains approximately 90% of the original black enamel outer finish. Blade slides in and out of scabbard with no issues. The scabbard and bayonet are original made/issued set. This is the early example of the Lebel bayonet, retaining the quillon and silver alloy grips. Measures 65.5 cm overall.

This was the bayonet used in conjunction with the Lebel Modèle 1886 service rifle. Many of these bayonets had their blades shortened, as many soldiers found their use within the confined space of a trench difficult to handle, so to find an uncut bladed example is getting rarer these days.