Anyone know a source for a Swiss 1914 pioneer bayonet?

[Aragorn243]

Watching ebay the past week and these aren't going cheap but there are so many of them and so many in the same or similar condition as the release of the 1918 bayonets that I'm wondering if these recently hit the surplus market from the Swiss armories.

Done the usual searches but nothing coming up. Anyone know of someone selling for less than the ebay prices?

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[old-smithy]

if they sold for less than ebay prices they woudl be sold and then resodl on Ebay someone woudl be out there to make the small amount of money involed. Lots of people make a living buying to resell on EBAY so little cheap stuff makes it out there, most sellers have Ebay prices or higher for their items. if IMA gests a stock of cheap blades they are rapidly bought and appear on Ebay for a few dollars more. You need to be in with the trade I am afraid or very lucky at a show/flea market etc.

[Aragorn243]

Thanks Carl, that's pretty much what I was afraid of. I had hoped they were still available from someone in "surplus" state.

[arado]

You need the carbine to put it on. difficult to find. I have both. I use it for show and tell. Their Long obsolete history... gary

[teal]

Try JC militaria in the UK, his stuff is 100% genuine he has a very good web site and he is prompt with postage but he is not cheap.

[Aragorn243]

You need the carbine to put it on. difficult to find. I have both. I use it for show and tell. Long obsolete history... gary

I have one, that's why I'm looking for the bayonet. 1917 production so while the 1918 will fit it just fine, probably not the first one it had,

[porterkids]

It seems lately that anyone selling decent bayonets looks on ebay and whatever the highest sales price for the past period they list, that is the price they want. Even if it is a stupid, crazy high price. They simply tell you "that's what they're selling for on ebay".

If someone asks me what a bayonet is worth I simply tell them to check ebay. I know that may be somewhat contrary to my opinion based on the above statement, but if you tell them a realistic price that is below what something has recently sold for, they think you're trying to screw them. You can't win, so I don't bother to get involved.

[LesterH]

I bought my chromed 1914 Pioneer bayonet on E-bay for £105.00 inc post. I assume no one wanted a chrome one! There is a Lady e-bay name is Sig Sal. She trades in vintage Swiss Army knives and sometimes has a few bayonets.Please see ebay.ch
UK retail for a 1914 Pioneer Bayonet is about £250! But they are a quality bayonet.
I think the general public have woken up to the quality of Swiss Army equipment. Now is the time to buy. Every one should have a Swiss Sig 57 bayonet, get one whilst they are still £20!

I have purchased long Garand bayonets from JC Militaria. He does sell good stuff. You can normally include GB postage in his advertised price. I always look at his stall at Bisley Arms Fair.
He has supplied my friends in S.Ireland with No5 bayonets. The friends were happy with their purchases.
Hope the above is of help. kind regards, Lester

[Aragorn243]

My year old price guide lists them at $75-$175 and would appear to be "out of date" for this item anyway. Ebay seems to start them at $150 although some are trying to start them at $250 which they do not appear to be able to get, yet. I was hoping to get one that had a coat of rust on the handle but it went for just over$150, I stopped there and lost it by $2, hate that. Figured all these nice shinny ones were refinished by the arsenal so polishing up the rusty one wouldn't be any different. I was watching one with a busted and crooked welded blade that I stopped watching when it got over $50. Last I noticed it it was over $80 but not sure what the final selling price was. It would have needed to be re-cut, re-welded, re-polished and you would still end up with a bad bayonet.

I for one love the Swiss bayonets. They are in my opinion, in their respective time periods, the nicest of any bayonet.

[LesterH]

Do not worry about chromed Swiss bayonets. It is an official unofficial modification to stop them going rusty. I have not seen a refinished Swiss bayonet on the UK market ( save for chrome ones). They seem to keep well as standard. However most of the Swiss Army is in reserve so their kit does not see a lot of action. Another nice bit of kit is their 1940s issue entrenching tool.
keep on looking and you will find a nice condition Pioneer bayonet for a fair price.

E-bay in the UK does not allow the sale of edged weapons and knives. Since the prohibition has come in . Bayonet prices in the UK have shot up quite a bit because of the lack of competition on E-bay. Only the dealers seem to have bayonets for sale now. The best value/ over condition has always been to buy from a fellow collector, trading up or selling his or hers collection.
One thing you can never put a price on is doing the leg work trying to find these old bayonets!

Kind regards, Lester