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SCARCE US SPRINGFIELD KRAG BOWIE BAYONET.

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:600.00 USD Estimated At:1,200.00 - 1,500.00 USD
SCARCE US SPRINGFIELD KRAG BOWIE BAYONET.

9 1/16" Bowie blade. 1 3/4" wide & 1/8" thick. 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. 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 amount of the bayonets produced but they are very scarce today. CONDITION: blade has peppery oxidation w/ light wear & scattered spots of very shallow pitting. Blade has been lightly sharpened. Balance of metal has been lightly cleaned leaving spots of pitting & handling marks. Walnut grips have extensive wear w/ chipping & dents & have been given coating of preservative finish. Rivets have copper colored appearance. Scabbard retains 50% original blue w/ wear turning gray & patina w/ scattered scratches, dents & handling marks. PROVENANCE: From the Lifelong Collection of Glen E. Mattox. (02-18553/RW). $1,200-1,500.