The 2.625 in. (67 mm.) long socket is cut for a bottom stud. The fuller is shallow, as wide as the blade, and squared off where it terminates at the ricasso.  The locking ring has a distinctive profile when viewed end-on. The M1847 also introduced the tapered blade shoulder, which the U.S. adopted for its M1855 bayonet.

The acceptance marking on the elbow is consistent with other known Liege, Belgium makers' acceptance marks. The identity of the maker represented by "NL" is not known. The ricasso marking is believed to identify the forger. The identity of the forger represented by "OM" is not known.

Bayonets of this type were imported to the U.S. during the American Civil War to go with the 140,000 French muskets and Belgian copies purchased by the U.S. Ordnance Department.

Shank: crown over "NL"

The M1866 bayonet also mounts to the 11 mm. M1874 Gras rifle, although this example is difficult to mount to the Gras in my collection.

This example was made in December 1867 at the French State Arsenal, Manufacture Imperiale de Tulle. The blade bears the commercial trademark of Gustav Felix in Solingen, Germany, indicating that the blade was made under contract and assembled into a bayonet at Tulle.

The scabbard has been modified by adding a German-style frog stud.

"Yataghan" is derived from the Turkish word for "one who lays down" to describe the downard-sweeping double-curve blade profile. The double-curve added strength and rigidity, while keeping the hilt and point in alignment for thrusting efficiency.

This example was made in Austria, by Steyr, in 1879. Steyr produced approximately 200,000 M1874 bayonets for France, marking them in French "Usine de Steyr" (Machines of Steyr). Steyr also produced M1874 bayonets for Greece. However, Greek M1874 bayonets are marked in German, “Waffenfabrik Steyr” (Weapons Factory Steyr).

Very little is known about the maker of this commercial bayonet. However, all signs seem to point to Sutterlin Lippmann & Cie., who produced Chamelot-Delvigne Model 1873 revolvers at St. Etienne from 1874–1884. "S * L" was Sutterlin & Lippmann's commercial trademark and is found on the revolvers they produced at St. Etienne. Hopefully, further research will someday uncover substantiation of the maker represented by "S.L".

This example is especially unusual in that it has a five-digit serial number (not four-digit). The placement, between the crosspiece pins, is also unusual.

Commercial M1874 bayonets were also produced by Francois Louis (F. L.) Henry at Châtellerault and by the German firm of Alex Coppel. All are uncommon.

Known affectionately as “Rosalie” to French troops, the M1886 was the French mainstay during WWI and many were still in service at the Fall of France in 1940.  The Lebel also saw extensive use worldwide by native troops in the French colonies.

The M1886 introduced the distinctive cruciform blade, which remained a feature of most French bayonets until 1956.

This example was made in 1890 at the Manufacture D'Armes St. Etienne (MAS). The scabbard was made by Manufacture Nationale d'Armes de Châtellerault (MAC). 

This is an early example that escaped later modifications, retaining its long blade, quillion, and raised round press stud. The silver-alloy grip is removable.

This example was made prior to the turn of the Century by the French State factory, Manufacture Nationale d'Armes de Châtellerault.

Early examples, like this one, had the 15 mm.-wide muzzle-ring (the same width as the crosspiece). This example also has the original black composition grips and hooked lower quillion.

Carter indicates that the second pattern, with a wider muzzle ring (that extends over the grip), was introduced prior to the turn of the Century. Later examples and reworked examples are sometimes found with wooden grips and/or an abbreviated lower quillion.

Crosspiece: "A 68028" and proofmarks

Scabbard: "D 21364"

This is the long-blade variant of the knife/sword bayonet produced by Remington for use with the No. 5 military rifle. Remington produced 100,000 No. 5 rifles for France in 1915–16, chambered for the 8 mm. Lebel cartridge. The No. 5 military rifle was also made in large numbers for Mexico and many other countries in 7 mm.

Remington also produced the No. 5 bayonet with an 8 in. (203 mm.) blade and and a 13 3/16 in. (335 mm.) blade.

This example bears no French serial number, so its classification as French is speculative. However, this long-blade variant is most often associated with France.

The blade marking indicates that the blade was likely made prior to Remington's merger with the Union Metallic Cartridge Co. in 1910. The pommel also lacks the oil hole inside the mortise (on the press stud side) characteristic of the French 1915–16 production. However, the bayonet could have been assembled from old stock already on hand in 1915, as military sales had nearly ceased due to the rifle's obsolescence.

The scabbard body is steel, with an integral leather belt hanger. The scabbard length, including the belt hanger, is 20.75 in. (527 mm.).

This bayonet was also used on the 6,000 M1949 self-loading rifles produced under contract for Syria. M1949 rifles used by the French Army had no provision for a bayonet.

This bayonet is shorter than the standard M1936 bayonet, due to the shorter barrel and forend of the M1936–CR39 rifle. CR is an abbreviation for Crosse Rebatible (Folding Stock).

These rifles were not produced in large numbers.

It is believed that France purchased a quantity of Pattern 1913 and U.S. M1917 bayonets after the Second World War and modified them. The bayonet was modified by shortening the blade and grinding off the muzzle ring. The scabbard was also shortened and a leather belt hanger attached.

This example was originally made in 1916 by the Winchester Repeating Arms Co. of New Haven, CT.

The belt hanger measures 5.00 in. (127 mm.) long by 2.25 in. (57 mm.) wide at its widest point

These are often advertised as being for the French Foreign Legion. However, these were not exclusive to the Legion. In addition to the Legion, these knives were also used by:

Marine Infantry Parachutists or RpIMA (Régiment de Parachutistes d'Infanterie de Marine).

Marine Infantry Regiments or RCP (Régiment d'Infanterie de Marine)

Parachute Infantry Regiments or RHP (Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes)

Airborne Cavalry (Régiment de Hussards Parachutistes)

Parachute Artillery or RAP (Régiment d'Artillerie Parachutistes)

Parachute Engineers or RGP (Régiment du Génie Parachutistes)

This is an early example, made 1956–58, with the blade patterned after the U.S. M4 bayonet. The blade was thought to be too weak due to the long false edge and was redesigned in 1958. According to Riesling, approximately 40,000 of this early style bayonet were made.

The scabbard body is steel, with an integral leather belt hanger.

"E-RM" stands for Establishment Regional du Materiel.

This example was made by the Manufacture d'armes Tulle (MAT).

This bayonet bears a resemblance to the Type C socket bayonet used on some variants of the Belgian FN–FAL assault rifle.

The 22 mm. socket diameter allows firing of the NATO-standard 22 mm. rifle grenades.

Since these bayonets are devoid of markings, it is not possible to determine whether this example was made in France or Switzerland.

The bayonet is nearly identical to the M1949/56 bayonet. However, the scabbard is of a new design that has a plastic body, a web belt hanger; and, incorporates a retention device to secure the bayonet.

The FAMAS is the service rifle currently used by the French armed forces. Unlike the M1949/56, on the FAMAS, the bayonet mounts above the barrel similar to the the German G3. The French troops refer to the bull pup-style FAMAS rifle as le Clairion (the bugle), due to its unusual profile when viewed from the side.

This example was made in January 1984 (the scabbard was made in February 1985). I have not been able to determine the identity of the maker or establishment denoted by "DLT".

Scabbard (body): "DLT" over "02 85"