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EXTRORDINARILY RARE CORRECT SPRINGFIELD 1902 KRAG

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:2,500.00 USD Estimated At:5,000.00 - 9,000.00 USD
EXTRORDINARILY RARE CORRECT SPRINGFIELD 1902 KRAG
BOLO BAYONET. 10 5/16" bolo type blade with approx. 4" false edge. Blade is marked on left ricasso "1902"; marked on right ricasso "US". Straight crossguard with muzzle ring. Walnut grips fastened by 2 rivets. Birds head pommel. Blued steel scabbard with oscillating metal belt loop, ball tip with drain hole and steel throat secured by single rivet. These bayonets are one of the rarest of American bayonets as only 56 bayonets & scabbards were mfg.; 50 in May 1902 & 6 the following year. 48/50 were sent to the Philippines for field trials. The purpose of the Bolo blade was to provide troops w/ a more serviceable bayonet than the knife type. It would then also serve for cutting heavy undergrowth when moving through jungle terrain. It's wide blade was hoped to be useful sod digging in lieu of a dedicated entrenching tool. It appears very few of these 48 bayonets were returned to the U.S. & the probable low number returned coupled with the additional 6 makes these bayonets very hard to find. This bayonet is featured on pages 124 through 129 of the book "The Krag Rifle" by Lt. Col. William S. Brophy, USAR Ret. CONDITION: blade has lightly cleaned appearance over light wear and staining with small spots of patina. There are moderate areas on both sides of the blade with the well defined edges which are associated with blood pitting. Blade has appearance of having been lightly sharpened and has several tiny nicks along the cutting edge. Balance of metal parts turning gray with light wear plus spots of patina and fine pitting. Grips show moderate to heavy wear with small missing chips and added protective finish. Right grip has tiny crack between cross guard and rivet head. Steel scabbard retains 60% worn thinning original blue with areas of light oxidation and fine pitting more notable on the back. Scabbard has several scattered small dents. PROVENANCE: From the Lifelong Collection of Glen E. Mattox. (02-18444/RW). $5,000-9,000.