RTI has a rare bayonet for sale for cheap

[Aragorn243]

Came out in today's mailing, a Vetterli colonial bayonet for $49. They don't seem to know what they are, can't get them to fit on anything, they might be altered. IMA says they are for the Vetterli rifles for colonial troops

Vetterli 70/87 colonial troop bayonet, modified bayonet ring Royal Tiger Imports

[Aragorn243]

Bayonets came today, definitely modified. The muzzle ring is about standard size for a smokeless caliber rifle, set high similar to an Argentine mauser. Rough finish, I'll probably clean them up. Don't fit anything I've tried putting them on either but I only tried two rifles.

[browningautorifle]

Have you tried M1917 and M1 rifle? Ross rifle, if you have one? Remember the Turks modified everything to fit the M1 rifles and stole every bayonet they could get.

[Aragorn243]

As they came from Ethiopia and they modified them, it should be something they had. RTI may not have everything but I'm trying to think of what they have had, M1 possibly. No Ross for sure and I don't recall any 1917's coming out of there either but it is possible. Two of the three are safe queens and the Ross has a shortened barrel but I'll check them out.

[browningautorifle]

As they came from Ethiopia and they modified them, it should be something they had.

Sure, I suppose. But they SAY they came from Ethiopia...anyway, you may have to take them to a gunshow and try a few odd rifles.

[mnmkeller]

They have had almost every WW1 and WW2 rifle with the exception of mosins come out of that Ethiopia lot.
They routinely have had M1 Garands and M1917s though not yet from the most recent shipment.

[browningautorifle]

They routinely have had M1 Garands and M1917s

I thought so...most warring nations have had their share of them.

[Aragorn243]

Muzzle ring a half inch too high for both Garand and M1917. Too high for Argentine Mauser by 1/4 inch (rough measurements for both). I have the bayonets lying around. Put it on the Ross, half inch too high. Fits an Arisaka perfectly except the lug is too large for the groove, but height and spacing is correct. I don't think Ethiopia had Arisakas but who knows.

On another forum someone suggested a Greek Manlicher but I don't have one of them and it was never confirmed.

They also appear to have sold out of them now. This is the second batch they found as the first was back in 2016. So probably not in huge numbers but several hundred at least.

[Aragorn243]

I finally got around to cleaning these two up. Took the scales off and then polished the crossguards to get the weld marks and grind marks off.

[browningautorifle]

Nice looking piece too.