Original Chile Pre-WWII Carabineros de Chile Mounted Police Yataghan 1908 Dress Bayonet With Scabbard Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. Now this is a lovely, yet strange bayonet. As with most dress bayonets they are merely for show, or in the rare event they can be used as a sidearm but will not mount on a rifle. On April 27, 1927, President Carlos Ibáñez del Campo merged the Fiscal Police, the Rural Police, and the existing Corps of Carabineros to form the Carabineros de Chile, one unified, paramilitary and national security institution under the direction of the national government. The organization still carries the name given to it by Ibáñez, who became the Carabineros’ first Director General. In 1929 its official coat of arms – two white crossed carbines in a green shield – was formally adopted. The service in 1930 became one of the pioneer mobile police forces in Latin America. By 1933 the Investigations Police of Chile was created on the basis of the investigations service. The roots of today’s NCO School began in 1934 when in Santiago’s Macul commune, the service’s mounted command began training NCOs and enlisted personnel independently. In 1939 the service received its own staff college, the Police Sciences Academy, and its own equestrian demonstration unit, the Cuadro Verde, and the mounted training squadron began the present day NCO School in 1951.

This sidearm utilizes the blade and crosspiece style of the French M1874 Gras sword bayonet, mated to a cast brass hilt. While many of these were made from already existing French bayonets, this one is much more crude and is most definitely indigenous made in Chile. There are no French proof marks or anything other than a serial or rack number on the pommel; E.638.

Both the bayonet and scabbard are in good condition but does show signs of wear. The scabbard retains little of its original enamel black paint. The frog mounting stud is unfortunately broken but otherwise the scabbard is still straight and without any extensive denting.

A beautiful example that comes more than ready for further research and display.

Specifications:
Blade Length: 10 1/8″
Blade Style: T-shaped
Overall length: 15 1/4″
Crossguard: 4 1/8”
Scabbard Length: 12 5/8″