Original German Mauser Model 1871 Rifle Bayonet by Alex. Coppel dated 1873 with Scabbard – Regiment Marked Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very good example of the Mauser Model 1871 rifle bayonet with brass hilt, compete with the original brass-fitted leather scabbard. The bayonet is in good condition, and is marked on the rear of the blade with (Crown) / W/ 73, indicating acceptance in 1873 during the reign of German Emperor Wilhem I, who reigned 1871-1888. 

The steel blade is 18″ long and is in very good condition, and has not had the main edge sharpened at any time, so it still has the factory blunt edge. It has some light staining, but overall looks great.

The blade ricasso is maker marked ALEX COPPEL / SOLINGEN, indicating manufacture by Alexander Coppel & Co. located in the legendary “City of Blades”, Solingen. This company manufactured bayonets for many years and up through WWII under the name Alcoso. Sadly, as the Coppel family was Jewish, they saw their company stolen from them and “Aryanized” during WWII by the NSDAP. For more information on this maker please see J Anthony Carter’s excellent work GERMAN KNIFE AND SWORD MAKERS.

The handle of the blade is in good condition, and has a fully functional bayonet latch. There are also some proof marks, as is typical on Imperial German bayonets. The steel “S” shaped crossguard does have a bit of oxidation in areas, and bears regimental marking 81. R. 2. 34.. This indicates issues to the 81st (1st Kurhessian) Infantry “Landgrave Frederick I of Hesse-Cassel” Regiment, raised on 5 December 1813 and garrisoned in Frankfurt am Main.

The bayonet comes complete with its original brass mounted black leather scabbard bearing bearing a different regimental marking: 122. L. I. 3. 16., for the 122. Leichte Infanterie (Light Infantry). We have not been able to find much information on this unit, which could be a battalion or regiment. There are additional proof marks on the hilt and drag of the scabbard. The scabbard is in very good condition, however the throat springs are VERY strong, and it requires quite a bit of effort to remove and replace the scabbard.

A very nice example of this relatively rare bayonet, ready to display!

The Mauser Model 1871 adopted as the Gewehr 71 or Infanterie-Gewehr 71, or “Infantry Rifle 71” (“I.G.Mod.71” was stamped on the rifles themselves) was the first rifle model in a distinguished line designed and manufactured by Paul Mauser and Wilhelm Mauser of the Mauser company and later mass-produced at Spandau arsenal.

Paul Mauser developed his bolt-action rifle from 1867 to 1871. During 1870–71 trials with many different rifles took place, with the “M1869 Bavarian Werder” being the Mausers’ chief competitor. The Mauser was provisionally adopted on 2 December 1871, pending the development of an appropriate safety. With support from the government’s Spandau arsenal, the improvements to the safety mechanism were completed and the rifle was formally accepted on 14 February 1872 as Infantry Rifle Model 1871 by the German Empire excluding Bavaria. General issue to troops began in late 1873 and all units had been converted by the spring of 1875. The Mauser 1871 was replaced by the magazine-fed, smokeless powder using Gewehr 1888 from 1888 through 1890.

Specifications:
Blade Length: 18 1/2″
Blade Style: Single Edge with Fuller
Overall length: 23 1/2“
Crossguard: 4 5/8”
Scabbard Length: 19 1/2″