This Model 1866 Chassepot sabre-bayonet is an authentic relic of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871.
Manufactured at the Imperial Manufactory of Châtellerault in April 1867, it was originally used with the famous Model 1866 Chassepot rifle, considered one of the most modern weapons of its time.
This particular example holds significant historical interest. The crossguard bears an authentic German regimental marking, evidence of its capture and subsequent reassignment to a German unit after the 1870 war.
Unlike many captured bayonets later modified to fit German rifles, this one has retained its original French configuration.
Its period scabbard (not matching the serial number) has undergone a German modification, making it a particularly sought-after item for collectors.
The back of the blade retains the manufacturing mark "Manufacture Impériale de Châtellerault – Avril 1867," attesting to its origin and production during the early years of the model's manufacture.
- Model: Model 1866 Chassepot sabre-bayonet.
- Manufacturer: Manufacture Impériale de Châtellerault.
- Date of manufacture: April 1867.
- Period: Second Empire.
- Blade: Yataghan type in steel.
- Total length: 69.5 cm.
- Blade length: 57 cm.
- Handle: Grooved brass.
- Crossguard: German regimental marking.
- Scabbard: Original metal, transformed attachment.
- Compatibility: Model 1866 Chassepot rifle and Gras 1874 system.
Functional spring.
Adopted alongside the Chassepot rifle in 1866, this bayonet accompanied French soldiers during the campaigns of the Second Empire and the Franco-Prussian War. After the French defeat, several hundred thousand weapons were captured by the German armies.
Some were profoundly modified to be adapted to German rifles. Others, rarer, retained their original configuration while only receiving a German regimental assignment marking, like this example. This dual identity – French manufacture and German service – gives it a historical dimension particularly sought after by enthusiasts of 19th-century regulation weapons.
The photographs are an integral part of the description and are binding on the buyer.
Purchase implies acceptance of the item's condition as presented.
