A French Model 1874 Gras bayonet, manufactured by Manufacture d’Armes de Saint-Étienne in July 1878. This classic French military sword bayonet was produced for use with the Model 1874 Gras rifle, the standard French infantry rifle introduced following the Franco-Prussian War. The precise manufacture date makes this an appealing example for collectors of nineteenth-century French military equipment and edged weapons.
The Model 1874 Gras was developed to replace the earlier Chassepot and was introduced into French service in 1874. Chambered for the 11mm Gras cartridge, it was a single-shot, metallic-cartridge rifle that represented an important stage in the development of French military small arms. The rifle and bayonet remained in service for several decades and were subsequently supplemented and replaced by newer French service arms such as the Lebel rifle.
The Gras bayonet is characterised by its substantial T-section blade with a spear point and distinctive hook quillion crossguard design with a muzzle ring designed to fit securely over the rifle barrel. Examples manufactured at Saint-Étienne are of particular interest to collectors, with dated examples allowing the production history of these important French military weapons to be more precisely documented.
The date July 1878 places this bayonet firmly within the early production period of the Model 1874 Gras, only a few years after the weapon’s adoption. Such early examples are particularly relevant to collections concentrating on the development of French military firearms and equipment during the late nineteenth century.
The Model 1874 Gras saw extensive French military service, and examples were subsequently used in a variety of roles and by other forces. Its bayonet is an instantly recognisable piece of nineteenth-century French military equipment and remains highly collectable.
An excellent addition to any collection of French bayonets, Model 1874 Gras equipment, nineteenth-century military edged weapons, or Franco-Prussian War-era French militaria.
Dimensions
Approx. 645mm overall, with an approximately 520mm blade.
Condition
Good original condition, with age-related wear consistent with a nineteenth-century military bayonet. The pommel is dented with some minor flaws evident. The blade displays surface marks and patination appropriate to its age, with the original manufacture details and July 1878 date adding considerable collector interest.
