Item Description
Original Item: Only One Available. This is a true, service worn Condition 16” WWI M1905 Springfield rifle bayonet made by Springfield Armory, complete with an original M1942 Scabbard. It is dated 1906, being made during the pre-WWI period for the M1903 Springfield rifle. It is still in the original issued configuration, with a steel 16 inch blade, blued handle and cross guard, and wooden grip scales. Upon U.S. entry into WWI in 1917, the specification was changed to a fully blued bayonet, and bright bayonets on hand were blued to match. Many of these were also reissued for use in WWII, and were parkerized and even cut down, but this one was not. It is still in the original production configuration.
The blade ricasso is marked with SA for the Springfield Armory in Springfield Mass, the primary center for the manufacture of United States military firearms from 1777 until its closing in 1968. Below this is the Ordnance flaming bomb and date of manufacture 1906. The other side of the ricasso is marked with U.S. above serial number 81650. The blade is in good, service used condition, showing sharpening of the edge and use as well as a few nicks. There is a bit of surface oxidation staining, with little rust that appears to be able to clean up easily if you would wish to do so. The handle and cross guard are a nice aged blue, and the original wooden grip scales are in very good condition, with much of the original factory "ribbed" texture.
The original M3 scabbard on this example is a rare example, produced by Detroit Gasket & Manufacturing Company of Detroit, Michigan. Their contract, number 374ORD 1293 was for $251,000 and called for deliveries to be made from January 1942 to June 1943. The body of the scabbard was made of different materials than Beckwith MFG Co used, consisting of cotton tubing impregnated with a phenol-formaldehyde thermosetting resin. Scabbards made of this material have a much finer weave in the body material, and the resin is a dark brown. These were marked with a sideways "Lazy S" under the "flaming bomb" on the throat.
The scabbard bodies proved to be brittle in service, and it was recommended that a change in the type of plastic be made. Also, it proved almost impossible to find a paint that would adhere properly to the body, and most of those found today will have much of the paint missing, just like this example. The throat still has all of the original finish, making this a very nice example of a rare scabbard.
A great example of the 16” WWI M1905 Springfield rifle bayonet by SA, complete with rare M3 scabbard! Ready to display or fit on your Springfield 1903 Rifle.
Specifications:
Blade Length: 16"
Blade Style: Single Edged with Fuller
Overall length: 20 1/2“
Crossguard: 3 1/2”
Scabbard Length: 17"
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