Original Item: Only One Available. This is the only example weve ever seen of this very rare Flintlock Rifle Bayonet.This amazing bayonet started life as a massive Cavalry Broadsword Model of 1750 of which the Sword Makers J.C. Herring produced 3,400 pieces. Largely obsolete in 1791 a drastic conversion took place reducing this massive sword to a “Light Infantry” short sword, known in Danish as a Jaegerhirschfanger.
In order to follow the British adoption of the Baker Flintlock Rifle and brass hilted Sword Bayonet the Danes modified the 1750/1791 jaegerhirschfanger short swords into the 1750/1791/1800 hirschfanger sword Bayonet which was issued with various weapons most notably the 1803 15.5mm Flintlock Jeager Rifle. This involved attaching a steel cross guard, in addition to the existing brass one. This steel cross guard then had a side mounting bracket with integral spring, which not only attached the bayonet to the weapon but acted as a hand guard as well.
This fine example measurs 31″ overall with a 25″ fullered double edged blade, the hilt in is plaited brass wire bound and the pommel bears a lion’s head which is all that remains from the formidable hilt, guard and blade of the original massive 1750 cavalry sword.
This is the only example weve ever seen of this very rare Flintlock Rifle Bayonet, for more information see “Gamle Danske Miliitaervaben” by Thomas Moller, pages 80/81, 88/89 and 168/169. Also “The Bayonet Book” by Watts and White, pages 57 and 61.