Hi All,
Was in a discussion about Argentine aluminum handled bayonets.
I would like to know if ALL that type bayonet came with the crest scrubbed!
Thanks for any input
Gil
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Hi All,
Was in a discussion about Argentine aluminum handled bayonets.
I would like to know if ALL that type bayonet came with the crest scrubbed!
Thanks for any input
Gil
Not all but those with crests are extremely rare. Argentina changed their laws sometime after they disposed of that particular model. So later exports did not have the crests scrubbed. A few survived. Worth a huge premium over scrubbed ones.
Make sure it's the correct bayonet. Later ones were exported with the crests. I can't think of the correct nomenclature off the top of my head.
The aluminum handled bayonets are the 1891. These are the ones that had the majority of crests ground off. The 1909's have wood handles and have their crests. If you can get a good deal on one with the crest, I still have that extra corpsman's knife.
My information says they were exported to the US with the crests ground. If some were exported to Canada later, they may not have been ground which may be why you see them. The law changed shortly after the US export.
They pop up on ebay with intact crests, on a regular basis. I have one of each of the brass and aluminum handled bayonets. Now if I could only match one up with my rifles serial no. I would be set.
Caution: On Argentine Bayonets pay close attention that the rivets have not been redone.
Back in the late 1960's and early 1970's our local gun-shop, (King's Gun Shop & Keys, Royal Oak, Michigan), had a large pile of 'Mint' Argentine blades wrapped in paper with the Crest and all markings intact. They sold for $1.00 each and being beautiful steel, some got made into knives.
The blades had no grips or guards and obviously had never been used. The grip area was shaped and complete. IIRC - The grip area was pre-drilled for rivets.
These blades had to be spares and may have shown up in other areas of North America.
BTW - King's Gun Shop is long gone.
These new spare blades are not numbered.