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RIA Bayonet


hawkdriver
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I went to the gun show this weekend and while walking past a table, I ran into this bayonet. I picked it up and pulled it out of the scabbard and saw the RIA, turned it over and saw the US. I asked the guy at the table what he wanted for it, he shot back $50. I pulled out $60, but he didn't have change, so he said that I could leave it and as soon as he could make change, I could come back and pick it up. I said the price was good and took off like a shot before he changed his mind.

Now to the question. The bayonet has a shiny green "blueing" finish to it. I'm thinking it has been refinished. I am sure the knife is worth more than what I paid for it, but by how much?

 

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Here is a full length look at it

 

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Left side

 

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Right side

 

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The release button. Here you can really see the green hue.

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Sorry to say this is a modern reproduction, not sure of which company's version it is but may be Sportsman's Guide:

 

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/cb.aspx?a=322977

 

There are others as several companies now supply these bayonets. I think the AEF Supply version has smooth grips, not sure about What Price Glory as I haven't handled any of theirs. I don't pay too much attention to these repros but have seen a few at the shows. Retail runs about $70 or so.

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Originals of this date were not factory blued, they were issued bright. During WWI, because the blades' shininess revealed the position of so-equipped units, many/most were BLUED.

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Still-A-Marine

For pricing bayonets I would suggest U.S. Military Knives, Bayonets & Machetes Price Guide - Fifth Edition. It's only $11.95 including shipping. I have found it to be a good way to keep myself from getting carried away when pricing edge weapons.

 

http://www.usmilitaryknives.com/price_guide.htm

 

Here are a couple of snap shots of mine. I bought it last May at a cost of $214.50. Bill

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Atlanta Cutlery is only about 15 minutes from my house, saw some of the same repos there, I think they were 69.00 with a repo scabbard.

Would be ok to display on a rifle until you found a real one.

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No BOLO, he didn't tell me, but buyer beware, I was in a hurry to get rolling, so I didn't pay attention and was unaware that there were knock-offs being produced, so it ultimatel is my fault. I did go to Wal-mart today and got a bluing kit and stipped the hideous green finish off and worked it down, blued it, and it is sitting in the sink curing right now. If it turns out OK, I will post a pic. May be salvageable yet.

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they are making all kinds of "knock offs" these days

 

usa, british, japanese, german, etc

 

but they are easy to spot when you see them up close and handle them

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Well, with nothing to loose, I got my Birchwood Casey blueing kit out and stripped that nasty green finish off the bayonet and blued it last night. Here is the final product. I seem to be the collector of wayward bayonets. The top bayonet is a 16" that was chrome plated for a drill bayonet. It had a hand made wood scabbard with a pure silver throat and wood grips when I got it. I've kept it in the chromed condition, but have toyed with stripping it back to bare steel. The bottom bayonet is there to help set a reference for the blueing.

 

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50 bucks? Doesn't seem out of line for a repro. I've dropped three times what you paid for that repro on a legit one

 

Nobody has mentioned it, I think everyone forgot-

 

It's a reproduction Model of 1905 bayonet, Sportsmans Guide inexplicably lists M 1903, perhaps thinking it needs to match the designation for the model of 1903 rifle. I think there was also a 1903 SMLE bayonet too- bayonetman has forgotten more about this stuff than I ever knew

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