Articles of the Gazette

Another unknown bayonet 1874/78, with a croocked spring. (Gazette 18 - Article 5)

Although I don’t give any answer for the « nice unknown » described page 13/20 in the Gazette number 14, I show you another unknown Gras bayonet bought in 1996 in Nogent (France). The special feature of this bayonet is a new brass pommel with a croocked locking spring instead of straight.
This bayonet can be fixed on the model 1878 Kropatchek. The blade spine is engraved « Usine de STEYR 1878 »
It is possible this bayonet was a french trial model to be used with a Kropatchek rifle, but it could be, also, a test model made by the OEsterreischiche Waffenfabrik Geselleschaft (OE-WG)) to adapt the model 1874 bayonet to the 1878 Kropatchek rifle.
This croocked spring was not found practical by the french manufacturer, or by the period military users. Anyway, it works quite well...