Articles of the Gazette

Two combat knives, or... (Gazette 15 - Article 8)

Since 1884 when Engineer Paul VIEILLE invented the smokeless powder (« B » powder) all the French armament began suddenly obsolete. It was progressively replaced, but a great part of the previous system was stored as soon as the « LEBEL » system was adopted and issued. Even if a large part of the previously in use system was still used by second lines troops, railroad guards and airfields sentries, The front lines weapons were all replaced. So an huge number of guns were declared obsolete. Many surplus dealers have bought these obsolete weapons and one of them, MANUFRANCE, imagined to recycle (already in this time) some of these arms.
This article will be limited to bayonets.