Musketon bayonet, 1842 model, French (c 1842-54)

Title	Musketon bayonet, 1842 model
Nationality	French
Period	c 1842-54

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This is the first model, with a leaf spring in the hilt, for the 1842 model Musketon (a French carbine). It has two nice, clear stamps at the base of the blade (almost certainly French arsenal inspectors' punches), one being a capital 'B' (I think), the other a capital 'G' surmounted by a star, all within a wreath.

There is no inscription on the spine of the blade, entirely consonant with Republican manufacturing practice. Later Napoleon III examples usually have the date and factory engraved.

This bayonet is the predecessor of all the later yataghan bayonets, as produced in the USA and UK in particular. It is not to be confused with the Chassepot bayonet model of 1866 for the first French bolt-action rifle. This 1842 model bayonet would have been issued with a muzzle-loading carbine carrying a percussion lock and would have been carried principally by artillery personnel.

Its condition is clean throughout with a little grey patina to the scabbard and some minor cribbling to the centre of the blade (from play fighting, I suspect), together with a small 6" electrical grind mark, where someone may have tried to polish the marks out. There are also a couple of bruises midway to the spine of the blade, which is 22.5" long. The frog fitting at the top of the scabbard appears to have been removed and an old brown leather frog fitted (glued?) in place.

If you want to comment on this item—re quality, age, etc—please email me.

[Edged Weapons : Bayonets : French : 19th Century]

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