These bayonets likely date from the 1880s. The picture at lower left shows this bayonet next to a French M1866 bayonet to provide a size comparison.

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

When I found this piece, noted bayonet collector, Dr. Jim Maddox (author of Collecting Bayonets), wrote to me, indicating:

"The references in Janzen's Notebook cover this item best.  For many years, we thought these were French cadet versions of the M1866 Chassepot.

Martin Retting, who imported these many years ago (mid-1960s I think), stated that they all came from Brazil. I have seen at least a dozen different variations, with several blade lengths and several hilt sizes.  Some have blunted blade tips.  Scabbard styles varied as well.

Some are said to be for an artillery carbine, but most appear to be very small cadet bayonets for assorted Comblain (not Chassepot) rifles. I have never seen one mounted on its companion firearm.

I bought a handful from Martin out of his old mail-order list back in "the good old days" for $2.50 each.

The only cadet Chassepot bayonet I have, that I am certain is actually French is stamped "ANDREUX PARIS" on the obverse ricasso.  Although sub-scale, the blade length of 18 1/4" is much longer than any of the Brazilian cadet bayonets."

The socket is blackened and the blade is in the white. The bridge has a cutout shaped to go over a front sight. The socket length is 2.25 in. (57 mm.). It is very sturdily constructed, with faithful attention to detail. Too dangerous to be a toy.

These bayonets are scarce and little is known of their origin.

It is patterned after the French M1754 bayonet, which was used with the Charleville musket (which, incidentally, the Americans copied to produce the first U.S. military muskets made at Springfield Armory, following its establishment in 1795).

Although, I am classifying this as French, this bayonet was made in France or Belgium; or possibly here in America. It is hand-forged and devoid of markings, so there's no way to be sure. Either way, it would have been made in the latter part of the 18th Century, 1770 give or take.

The socket length is 2.812 in. (71 mm.).

This bayonet is a scaled-down version of the issue M1873 socket bayonet. The socket length is 3.00 in. (76 mm.).

The cadet rifle was a special scaled-down version of the standard M1873 infantry rifle.  Despite its smaller size, the cadet rifle was made to the same standards as it's full-sized cousin and was every bit as accurate and lethal.

There were approximately 22,000 M1873 Cadet Rifles produced during its 20-year production period.

From its inception in 1816, the Ordnance Department repeatedly and unsuccessfully attempted to get the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, to accept standard infantry muskets and rifles (or shortened versions of same). It was not until 1900 that West Point finally began to use standard infantry rifles for cadet training.

This cast iron socket bayonet is heavily plated and incorporates a functioning spring steel locking ring that rotates to secure the bayonet when fixed to the rifle. Larger than the more common Bannerman's Cadet cast iron socket bayonet and much more finely finished. The socket length is 3.00 in. (76 mm.).

The Requarth Co. was (and still is) a specialty lumber and cabinetry company. The company was founded in 1860 and is still in business today in the same downtown Dayton, Ohio, location they have been at since 1895. The Boys Brigade Gun was a (mostly) wooden drill rifle made by Requarth and retailed by three companies whose names also appear on the rifles.

The exact period of manufacture for the rifles and bayonets is not precisely known nor is the actual manufacturer of the bayonets (Requarth was a lumber mill, not a foundry). The Requarth mill was inundated by the Great Dayton Flood of 1913 and substantially damaged by fire in 1915. However, the mill continued operation and today is a 5th-generation family-owned business. The Requarth Co. is historically significant as having supplied the Wright Brothers with spruce for constructing their aircraft.

Made of cast-iron; and sporting a thick coat of dark paint, this small socket bayonet has a blunted point, as it was made only for drill and parade use. The socket length is 1.625 in. (41 mm.).

These are commonly associated with New York surplus dealer, Francis Bannerman, due to their listing in early Bannerman catalogs (ca. 1907).

Produced by the Daisy manufacturing Company Inc. of Plymouth, Michigan, approximately 150,000 #40 rifles and bayonets were made from 1916–1934.

The #40 is said to be one of the most sought after items by today’s collectors of Daisy BB guns. Examples of the bayonet are far less common than rifles, with many having been lost (or confiscated and disposed of by concerned parents).

The Daisy Sport Trainer rifles were made 1966–69 by the Daisy Manufacturing Co. The bayonet was closely patterned after the bayonets used on similar trainer rifles made in the 1950s by the Parris Manufacturing Co. Although not documented, the bayonets and mounting system are so similar, it seems likely that they were made by the same unknown contractor that had produced the Parris bayonets.

No scabbard was produced.

Manufactured by Sport Oprema (Sport Equipment) of Ljubljana, the bayonets were used with rubber-coated drill rifles, also produced by Sport Oprema. The drill rifle simulated the size and weight of a 7.62 mm. PAP M59 rifle. The bayonet has a small muzzle ring, which is secured to the rifle’s muzzle by a knurled bolt.  There is also a socket in the bayonet’s pommel, which fits over a mounting stud protruding from the rifle’s forend.

I have yet to determine the meaning of the circle-tsp mark in the bayonet's grip.

Sport Oprema sponsored a highly successful competitive fencing club in Ljubljana that bore the company’s name. The club was formed ca. 1978 and was in existence for at about 10 years.