French M1874 Gras bayonet manufactured by the St. Etienne Weapons Factory and dated April 1879. This original French military bayonet was produced for use with the M1874 Gras rifle, the standard French infantry rifle introduced during the 1870s. The M1874 Gras was a single-shot, bolt-action rifle that replaced the earlier Chassepot and remained an important French service arm before the adoption of the Lebel rifle in 1886.
The bayonet features the characteristic T-shaped straight blade with a spear point associated with the M1874 Gras pattern, together with the substantial brass pommel, steel quillon and muzzle ring. The blade is marked “Mfre d’Armes St. Etienne, Avril 1879”, providing a precise manufacturing date and placing the example within the later production period of the pattern. The matching serial numbers are an important feature for collectors, indicating that the principal numbered components correspond and adding to the authenticity and collectability of the bayonet.
Manufactured at the St. Etienne Weapons Factory, this bayonet is a strong example for collectors of French military edged weapons, Franco-Prussian War-era militaria, 19th-century bayonets and French Gras rifle equipment. The combination of a documented 1879 date, St. Etienne manufacture and matching serial numbers makes this an appealing example for a serious French military collection.
Dimensions: Approx. 64.5cm overall, with an approximately 52cm blade
Condition: Good original condition, with age-related wear and patination to the blade and steel scabbard. Some minor damage to the hilt. Matching serial numbers and markings on the spine remain clearly visible.
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