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I've gotten mixed information about this bayonet. It has been identified as a Gendarmerie bayonet and a Cadet bayonet. I trying to find a firm answer and a value.
Attachment 102334Attachment 102335Attachment 102336Attachment 102337
Any help appreciated.
A distinctive feature of the Chassepot barrel is the long bayonet lug on the right side, near the muzzle, which means that it can only take a bayonet with a T-slot in the back of the grip. The "bar" of this lug extends right up past the foresight block, almost to the muzzle, so it would not be possible to fit a bayonet of the type shown in your post, which is slid over the foresight and then rotated to lock it.
Whatever it is, its not a bayonet for the Chassepot infantry rifle. Gendarmerie a pied? Cadet? They both seem to have the same bayonet fitting. As does the "mousqueton" (short rifle). In short, I do not know of any Chassepot version that takes such a socket bayonet. Google some photos yourself, maybe you have more luck.
The basic "push and twist" mechanism of the type of bayonet that you have posted was used by everybody and his brother in the 19th century, so any marks (numbers don't help much) and some basic dimensions would help to identify the type of rifle on which it was mounted.
Patrick,
I've been told the first Chassepot bayonet was a push and twist socket, quickly replaced by the brass hilted sword type that we're all familiar with and at least one site lists one like mine as a Gendarmerie bayonet. I contacted the owner of that site and he could only say that is how it was identified to him, he is not positive. If it is an early Chassepot, I've been told it is fairly rare and I probably shouldn't use it to hold up the tomato plant. There are no other marks than I've shown. It does appear to have been plated early in its life, as does the one example I've seen a photo of.
Looks like a Swiss Vetterli bt.
Second the Swiss Vetterli bayonet.
Pulled mine, 99% sure it's a Swiss Vetterli. Swiss cross over P, shape is identical in all respects. Only difference with mine is it's a Swiss cross over O and unit markings and locations.