Original German Mauser Model 1871 Rifle Bayonet by Coulax & Cie. of Klingenthal with Scabbard - 168th Infantry Regiment Marked - Dated 1875

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very good example of the Mauser Model 1871 rifle bayonet with brass hilt, complete with the original brass-fitted leather scabbard. The bayonet is in good condition, and is not marked on the rear of the blade with an 1875 year as well as the usual acceptance marks.

The steel blade is 18 ½” long and is in good condition, and has not had the main edge sharpened at any time, so it still has the factory blunt edge. It has staining and pitting, but overall looks great.

The blade ricasso is maker-marked:

COULAX & CIE.
KLINGENTHAL

The Coulaux family, or Coulaux & Cie (“& Cie.” is the equivalent to “& Company” in English) purchased the royal forge and swordmaking facilities of Klingenthal, France in 1838. The production of fencing blades and weapons began in 1850, and the Coulaux operators also exported their fencing blades to fourbisseurs and fencing supply houses such as Castello Fencing Equipment Co. of the United States and Souzy de Lacam of France.

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 heavy oxidation in areas, and bears the very faint regimental marking 168.R.3.95, which we believe is for the 168th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Company, 95th Man. 

The bayonet comes complete with a brass mounted black leather scabbard which is not marked with any unit designation, so the set is not matching. The scabbard is in fair condition, however the stitching is heavily lost and there is a large bend in the leather. A very worn example.

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

Specifications:
Blade Length: 18 ½”
Blade Style: Single Edge with Fuller
Overall length: 23 1/2“
Crossguard: 4 5/8”
Scabbard Length: 19⅝"

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.