krag bayonet value

[kablair]

I am trying to match a bayonet to my 1898 Krag, linked to the 26th. US infantry. I have two bayonets, a 1900 and a 1902. Condition aside which would be a better match for the rifle ?

( the 1902 is in slightly better shape ,grip area)

-Thanks, Kab

Information

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[browningautorifle]

They're both the same pattern, yes? The rivets are the dome type? And the only difference other than a bit of condition is the date stamp... When a rifle is issued, any bayonet that's in stores will do. The list includes them by name, you won't likely get one that's exactly new, you might... If the scabbard is second pattern and bayonet is too...I'd use the best one. Now, how about some pics?

Here's something borrowed from Gunboards, in 2008...dfariswheel said...

The question is often asked about whether a specific rifle would have had a certain type of sling or model of bayonet, or what was the "official" cleaning gear that would have been issued at a certain time.
The president of my first gun club was an old Ordnance man who'd served from the 1913 Mexican affair to Korea. He told me that what you were issued depended entirely on what the ordnance shed had when you showed up. The "official" sling may have been a 1907 or a canvas M1 rifle sling, but if the Ordnance shed only had Kerr slings in stock..... you got a Kerr sling.

Same thing applied to bayonets, cleaning gear, cartridge belts and everything else. If it came between not having the "official" issue item to issue or issuing NOTHING, they issued what they had.

[kablair]

Thanks, Jim. Thought you would have the answer. Will post pictures as soon as I can. The scabbard is the type 3. Probably to link the bayonet to a conflict I will have to use the 1900.

[kablair]

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[browningautorifle]

Don't take this wrong Kab, but two standard bayonets...both identical except for the date and one has a number in the grips. I picked one up after some looking and since there's little choice here on what to get I settled for it. It was in a picket pin case that had been chewed by varmints...no value there. The bayonet had been aggressively sharpened on a grind wheel. Not even sharpened, just the attempt and poorly done at that. Stone marks up and down the blade flats, I still took it on spec. I used wet and dry machine paper with oil and a file, starting coarse and ending fine. I got most of the marks out and it looks good. I found a scabbard over on Culver's for a good buck but here in Canada, I'm kind of hooked. The whole thing now is worth about what I payed more or less,,, here in Canada. I'd take the fine wet and dry to those and wrapped around a file, it should clean them both up. Then decide... I can show you my end result if you need...

[kablair]

Jim, Why would I take anything wrong ? I asked for your opinion. Thanks for the tip. I know someone did a bad sharpening job. Fortunately I'm not a collector, just an admirer of US military firearms.
Speaking of Canada I miss the good old days when I could just drive to the Eastern Townships with a couple of 03's in the trunk and target shoot with my fiends from McGill. Guess those days are done.

-thanks, Kab

[browningautorifle]

the Eastern Townships

You don't hear them referred to that way much any more. My woman is from Coaticook. Yes, everything there has changed to rigid. No one shoots just where they want to any more. I originally came from down southern Ontario, Leamington/Wheatley area and Brian Dick was a bit east of me... Of course Badger is from the big town...

[A square 10]

actually the scabbard might be more important than the blade in some instances to a collector , but as you are in the later era rifle its not very critical either to your choice , the picket pin case aside the latest version of the scabbard would have worked best with the current ammo belts at that point , an 1899 blade would have been contemporary mfgr to the rifle if that helps - but if you check the stock date it could easily fit with the 1899 ,

[browningautorifle]

actually the scabbard might be more important than the blade in some instances to a collector

And as value goes too...I payed $75 US and after it had arrived, it was $130 CDN to me. The blade still cost that all grinder hashed and in a rat chewed picket pin case. All told it cost me $260 as is after it was hand lapped with paper and cleaned up...now it's good.