Original Item: One of a Kind. We’ve only seen ONE of this type of bayonet before, and understand that these were BRITISH Colonial issue for the tropics having brass fittings. The design is based on the British P-1856 Two Band percussion Short Rifle often issued to Artillerymen. It measures 24 3/4 inches, with a 19 3/4 inch blade. The extreme yataghan curve to the blade was probably intended for issue to inexperienced sepoys (Native troops) who were newly acquainted with muzzle loading rifles fitted with bayonets.
The benefit of yataghan blades was it offset the blade and allowed the Sepoy to reload a rifle with its bayonet in place. This protected the soldiers from inadvertently running their hand against the bayonet blade when reloading the weapon. Once mastered they then had no problem with the standard yataghan bayonets.
The early leather checkered panels are each somewhat deteriorated being about 180 years old. Unusual and very rare, absolutely original, ready to display!