Can you help ID this 19th century sabre?

[constantine]

Hello all,

I picked this up at a flea market in the late 80s; does it look familiar to anyone?

The whole thing is about 27" from pommel to tip:

The hilt seems to have a groove with a spring-catch, possibly for fastening as a bayonet?

The most interesting thing though, is the inscription on the back of the blade. Here's a photo of it, but it seems to be in French and says "Mre d'Armes de Chat 8bre 1873"

Any ideas what type of sword this is, where it came from, where it was used, what rank of soldier would've carried it? I tried researching French conflicts during this time period but didn't find much.

Any information or assistance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!


Constantine

 

[booker]

Looks like a bayonet

 

[Hesparus]

It is in fact a bayonet. In the book in front of me (the illustrated encyclopedia of knives, daggers & bayonets) it is identified as a sword bayonet for the french chassepot rifle circa 1866. Can't tell you much more than that. Very cool, though. One of my favorite bayonete patterns.

- Chris

 

[galen59]

French bayonet, Franco-Prussian war but used through WWI

 

[Erasmus]

Yes, an old French bayonet.

 

[Lynnen]

I have one of these also. Is it worth anything?