Original Item: One of a Kind. This will make ANY serious Bayonet Collector WEEP! Some German clown took an exceptionally rare early MAUSER M-1871 Saw Back Pioneer Bayonet and scabbard, clearly in lovely condition, and “cut it down” by resetting the blade and removing the original cross guard and shortening the original brass mounted leather scabbard to match. TOTAL SACRILEGE !!!
Despite this tragedy it is what it is and that is now a WWI Trench Knife!
The knife now has an 8 1/2 inch Saw Back Blade, which shortened from the HILT side, though it still retains its original brass Mauser 1871 grip assembly with working catch. It comes complete with the original scabbard, which has been shortened to 9 1/2 inches long from the top, keeping both of the original brass mounts intact.
The rear of the top scabbard mount shows several Regimental markings, all of which have been crossed out except for the last, which reads as follows:
R.E.19.222.
In really fabulous condition one can only wish the conversion had never taken place, however this has to extremely rare and important WWI Trench knife ready to display.