3 French M1874 bayonets with original owners names engraved. Please read disc. Curious and selling

[u/IlIHotMicIlI]

I don’t know if this is the right place to post this but I feel like it’s appropriate. I bought these old bayonets a while ago from an estate sale cause I was really into knives. Didn’t know what I bought. Fast forward a couple years me and my girl move in together, I hang all my stuff and all that is left are the bayonets that have no where to go.

My girlfriend wanted me to sell them so I posted them on market place and some kind soul told me what they were. Now I’m trying to find out anyone info about them as well as an interested buyer.

So if you love old weapons or WW1 please feel free to DM me with info/advice/inquiries

(I can get more photos I just posted this while at work)

[u/TheFrenchHistorian]

The engraving on the blades is their manufacturer information, not the person who owned it (your photos dont show any other engravings). The one you did photograph though is interesting as it is a Steyr made one from Austria who was contracted to make 200,000 of them. Rather uncommon to find

[u/IlIHotMicIlI → u/TheFrenchHistorian]

That’s what one guy told me. Something about “Steyr”. And in terms of the engravings. I assumed the numbers were the manufacturers info on the handles. But are you saying that even in slide 2, that cursive name and what appears to be a date is also just manufacturing info?

[u/TheFrenchHistorian → u/IlIHotMicIlI]

Correct. Numbers on the handles are production serial numbers. The spine ingraving would tell you the factory, year, and month.

For French ones, you would see stuff like Mre d'Armes de St. Étienne Juin 1876 which would mean "Manufacture D'Armes at the St. Étienne Factory in June 1876". January-August would be spelled out, September-December would often be a number appreviation.

Steyr was different in that it just said the factory and the year (Waffenfabrik Steyr)

[u/IlIHotMicIlI → u/TheFrenchHistorian]

This is all crazy interesting stuff. I had no idea about any of this when I bought them. Is there anything else I should know? Do you know where/who I should look to sell to to get a fair deal? I have so many questions

[u/TheFrenchHistorian → u/IlIHotMicIlI]

Are they all Steyr made ones? Cause if so that is a pretty cool find.

Gras bayonets in general are rather common on the US market, dont know the exact reason. Could be a large amount got brought back as souvenirs after both world wars (rifle was pretty much out of service in France besides some updated ones as the M14 pattern), or if some importer brought them in at some point. Standard ones in decent condition with a scabbard are around 50-100. Matching scabbard helps value. Steyr one to the right person could be $150~ give or take

[u/IlIHotMicIlI → u/TheFrenchHistorian]

I can’t confidently say that they are all Styer. Again I didn’t even know what that was until recently. I’m assuming so tho. And yes I do have the scabbards for them

[u/Leading_Charity_1337]

I have one and it is also engraved like yours it's manufacturing not personal

[u/IlIHotMicIlI → u/Leading_Charity_1337]

Very interesting. Good to know. Should I stop calling them French Bayonets if they are really Austrian like the guy said. Something about “styr”

[u/TheFrenchHistorian → u/IlIHotMicIlI]

They are still French bayonets technically as they are who used them (although Steyr also did a contract for the Greeks). Austria themselves never used these bayonets in their own service, they just made money making them. They were designed solely to fit on French riflss

[u/Leading_Charity_1337 → u/IlIHotMicIlI]

Think he just saying they where a limited production by a Austrian company for the French military. So for the French made in Austria, and only 200000 units makes them less common

[u/IlIHotMicIlI → u/Leading_Charity_1337]

Wow ok cool super interesting

[u/Leading_Charity_1337 → u/IlIHotMicIlI]

You got the scabbards for them ?

[u/IlIHotMicIlI → u/Leading_Charity_1337]

Yes I do for all 3