December 10-13, 2024 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/12/2024
The Irish version of the Boy Scouts, the Fianna, were militarized to support the Nationalist movement and these young Scouts purchased surplus French bayonets as side arms. After the M1871 German Mauser rifles were landed at Howth and Kilcoole in 1914, there were several attempts made to convert these Gras bayonets to fit the Mauser rifles, as well as efforts to adapt the bayonet lugs on the rifles to accommodate the French bayonets. This French bayonet was not converted, and, in 2016, it was discovered in the cellar of a house undergoing renovation in Dublin. It was subsequently sold in a Dublin antique store. It is complete with its metal scabbard, and has some remnants of red paint on it. PROVENANCE: Kenneth Smith-Christmas collection. CONDITION: Good, blade mostly bright with some scattered pockmarks and delaminaton to blade, with crisp spine inscription, dated 1875. Scabbard and mounts very good, with some handling marks and surface mossing.
Item Dimensions: L: 26"