M-1891

[tlitt]

Today I traded for an Italian bayonet. I've identified it as an M-1891. The blade is stamped TERNI with no rust. It is sharper than most bayonets seem to be but the edge still has blue on it. The crossgaurd is stamped NN7620. It has a leather scabbard with brass hardware. The scabbard is stamped A.R.E.T 1940. It has a canvas frog. I just wondered how these ran in the rare to comman range. I'm still working on getting the cosmoline cleaned off. Of course I wondered about the value as well?
Thanks

Information

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[old-smithy]

not rare and worth what someone is prepared to pay, value is by the buyer perception what they are prepared to pay as the scap valus is probably only a few cents if you are lucky

[tlitt]

Glad I didn't put much in it. At least it did clean up nice and now I have an Italian blade in my collection. The guy also had a Japanese bayo. Might should have went with that one. But he wanted $150 for it and the scabbard had some big dings in it.

Thank you

[old-smithy]

Unless it is a rare maker or variation 150 would be high for an normal Arisaka. The best place to get an idea of values is to watch EBAY, you dont have to buy from there but watching sales will give you a good guide to relative values of a lot of blades. and also show commona and less common ones, it is a great way to learn what is out there and some of the sellers actually know what they are talking about.

[jmoore]

I reckon the scabbard is worth more than the bayonet. Regular Carcano bayonets seem to be roughly US$30-50 any more. $10 ones are hard to find!

The folding ones are a different story.

[gew8805]

Carcano bayonets are far from rare but they are not dirt common either. Price in nice condition like yours with a scabbard in like condition will run from $50 - $75 +. You did well on passing on the Japanese bayonet, unless it is a rare maker, the condition is all important and it sounds like the guy had an inflated value on it.

As an aside, talking about over priced common bayonets, Japanese and M1 Garand bayonets are both common and highly over priced, especially the Garand bayos. I'd rather have the Carcano bayonet than either of those.

[bayonet]

I agree never could see why garand bayonets are so high also most k98s are over priced.

[old-smithy]

THe 1905 is because rifle collectors want them for their rifles adn want top quality hence the price rocketed, I bought mine in the UK for 1/4 to 1/2 of the US pricesm home produced blades are always highest in their home country as people have a tendency to collect the blades from their country.

The 84/98 pricing is purley down to demand, lots of people want them so the price goes up, itis nothing really to do with rarity as the pricing doesn't follow the rarity of the makers marks as much as percieved collectivness! THere are a lotof bayoent collecotrs who only do the WWII 84/98 and want matching and mint and pay for it. I have 70 or 80 but am not so demanding, if you accept mis matched or lesser condition you cna collect these still at reasoanble prices. Also dotn believe the hype, a grey ghost is not that uncommon, matchign asw's are very common even in near mint condition, they were made and never issued.

[bayonet]

Carl.,
I agree but even the WW11 cut ones and shorts are high.I see them at shows more than any other bayonet.It is to me a false market Kind of like Elvis plates! Seeya at the SOS
Carl(t.o.o.)