Early (?) Model 1892 Berthier Bayonet

[4thGordons]

This caught my eye and I bought it despite the damaged grip because it had a feature that I did not think any of my other M1892 bayonets have.

In addition to being in really excellent condition, the blade is engraved along the spine like earlier French bayonets. (M' d'Armes de Châtellerault 1893)

It is also dated 1893 making it a pretty early example.

Once I got back I checked and indeed none of my other 1892s (including a couple of early format ones) have engraving on the blade. I am about to jump into my reference books and see what I can discover - I assume this practice was discontinued fairly early but I am trying to ascertain when and how common engraved blades are?

Bayonet and scabbard numbers do not match

[N White]

Supposed to be only the first several months or less.  None later than 1893.

My 2 (one sans grips) are dated same month as yours.  I have seen several, they do not seem as rare as one might expect, (while still rather scarce) but it may be the comparative lack of interest in French arms that makes them less of a hot item.

Edited 18 September , 2021 by N White

[N White]

Having now dug out "Chassepot to Famas", Chatellerault bayonets only, and only until November 1893.

Production tables suggest 10859 Chatellerault Mle1892 made in 1893, and 29140 in 1892.

Interesting note in the table was 0 Chatellerault production of Mle1892 in 1894 due to making Mosin Nagants for Russia.

[AndyBsk]

Very nice early pieces made in Septembre 1893, some are marked in August and Oktobre when i remember correctly. The serialing on scabbard of first piece is mostly later production as BD range.I dont see exactly the letters on hook of Chris piece, but this should be mostly reserialed later to different production carbine, as it looks there are 2 letter prefixes.

I looked to my sources about M92 and M16 both parts should be reserialed to other carbines in war or postwar period, why? because the early production should be in A range only by Chatellerault, (i have no spine first modell still in A range) so the bayonet even very early production 1893 was used on M16 carbine produced in 1917 when there is AB? 25986 when AD so made already in last months of war 1918. The scabbard marked BD 18621 was serialed to some refurbishments of M16 done post 1935 with new barells so new range was started.

Edited 18 September , 2021 by AndyBsk