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RARE AND DESIRABLE U.S. SPRINGFIELD KRAG BOWIE

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:600.00 USD Estimated At:1,200.00 - 1,500.00 USD
RARE AND DESIRABLE U.S. SPRINGFIELD KRAG BOWIE

BAYONET. 9" Bowie blade bayonet. Blade is 1 3/4" wide & 1/8" thick. It has a clipped point & unstopped fullers. Marked on left ricasso "1900". Marked on right ricasso "US". Straight cross guard, Birds head pommel & smooth walnut grips. Curved steel scabbard finial. Belt loop w/ wire clip & lug to limit oscillation to 100 degrees. Commonly referred to as a Bowie bayonet it was officially named Combination Knife Bayonet & Entrenching tool. It was authorized by the Board of Ordnance and Fortifications. 2,000 were ordered of which 1,500 were sent to the Division of the Philippines and 500 to the Division of Cuba. The tests were primarily for their utility as entrenching tools although it is reported they also saw a very sm. amount of combat use in the Philippines during the insurrection. The Board of Ordnance and Fortifications did not feel after extensive testing that the advantages of this bayonet were great enough to replace the standard knife bayonet. They were recalled from the field, condemned & ordered sold. Published sources disagree on the actual number of the bayonets produced but relatively few survive today. CONDITION: bayonet in good overall condition showing light wear w/ staining & peppery oxidation. Blade has been lightly sharpened showing very fine scattered file marks. Balance of metal starting to turn gray w/ sm. areas of light oxidation & sm. handling marks. Grips in very good, lightly worn condition. Steel scabbard retains 60% original blue finish, scattered light dents plus turning patina having areas of fine oxidation. PROVENANCE: From the Lifelong Collection of Glen E. Mattox. (02-18552/RW). $1,200-1,500.