M1905 RIA/SA bayonets

[rldarmstr]

I have several M1905 bayonets and all but one are SA. All the SA's have a prominant blue line ahead of the guard but the RIA does not. I went looking on the internet for RIA bayonets to see if this was a trait of RIA or if the RAI bayonet I have has the blue worn away. The rest of the handle metal is a plum brown color. I could not find one RIA that showed a blue line ahead of the guard like the SA bayonets.

Can anyone verify this?

Thanks,

Robert

Information

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[rongee]

I have several M1905 bayonets and all but one are SA. All the SA's have a prominant blue line ahead of the guard but the RIA does not.

Gary Cunningham in his American Bayonets of the 20th Century states that until 1917, all 1st production 1905 bayonets were manufactured with a blued hilt and a bright blade. The bluing continued up the blade and ended just below the serial number. He does not distinguish between SA and RIA. I have a 1906 dated RIA and it does not have the blued strip on the blade. But it also doesn't have a serial number!

[rldarmstr]

Thanks but I have that book and have read that section. It does not specifically state anything about the RIA facility or production procedures at that facility.

Even when reading Gary's work I tend to question statements that use the words ALL or NEVER.

I was hoping for a picture of an RIA to verify my concerns.

I am familiar with the SA version and what the blue line is and how it looks. I have never seen, to best of my recolection, a RIA bayonet that displayed this feature.

[Tom in N.J.]

J.A. Maddox in his beautiful work "Collecting Bayonets" shows a blued 1917 RIA and a bright 1910 SA, and states that pre WWI M1905 bayonets are bright, with the hilt blued, the blue extending a few millimeters up the ricasso.
I also have an un numbered RIA 1906, M1905. RIA didn't number their early production. The finish on my RIA is NOT original, having been at one time blued and then re polished.

[A square 10]

rongee has the info i would have added , i do have an early RIA M1905 tho so ill post it , the blueing doesnt go much beyond the cross guard on mine eather , it is in original bright finnish -

[rldarmstr]

Thanks. A picture is worth a thousand words. Love those pictures.

That's a pretty nice rig. I have an SA with a 1905 scabbard that I ma prety proud of too.

This thread is about the RIA's though. I swear that there is no blue beyond the guard on my 1909 RIA and never was. It just doesn't look like there ever was anything there. The guard is in real nice shape and the blade from the guard forward is bright and looks like it always was bright.

[Bayonetman]

The "Line of Blue" on most RIA production is very narrow, unlike that of Springfield which is much wider. In most of them, it is less than 1/32 wide and in some probably not more than 1/64. I agree that on most of them, there is only a hint of a line. Apparently Rock Island did their final polish almost up to the guard. I should have made this distinction more clear in my book. Hopefully one of these days I will get my Bayonet Points article on the Model 1905 bayonet finished and will try to be more specific .

The one in the photo is about as wide as I have ever seen on a Rock Island.

[old-smithy]

Mine is parkerised so not much help on blueing i am afraid

[rldarmstr]

Here are a couple pics of mine. I agree that it seems to be a production difference/technique between ther two facilities. When I read something that says 'all' have this or "none" have that, I really wantto see a poicture and a cross section of the item referenced so I know for myself. Apparently all M1905 bayonets fdo not have prominant bule line in front of the guard.

http://i618.photobucket.com/albums/t...ayonats009.jpg

http://i618.photobucket.com/albums/t...ayonats008.jpg

http://i618.photobucket.com/albums/t...ayonats007.jpg

http://i618.photobucket.com/albums/t...ayonats003.jpg

http://i618.photobucket.com/albums/t...ayonats002.jpg

http://i618.photobucket.com/albums/t...ayonats001.jpg

THe first 3 are the RIA I picked up a couple weeks ago.

The last three are my 1906 SA that I have had for several years. The blue line is not reall prominant in the pics. (bad photographer), it is actually very vivid.

[rldarmstr]

Let's try this post. maybe these are a little better?

Here are a couple pics of mine. I agree that it seems to be a production difference/technique between the two facilities. When I read something that says 'all' have this or "none" have that, I really want to see a picture and a cross section of the items referenced so I know for myself. Apparently all M1905 bayonets do not have prominant blue line in front of the guard.









The first 3 are the RIA I picked up a couple weeks ago.

The last three are my 1906 SA that I have had for several years. The blue line is not real prominant in the pics. (bad photographer), it is actually very vivid.