Antique 19th century European Bayonet knife

19th Century European Sword Bayonet. 

Good condition.

Its a Sword bayonet for use with the 10.4 mm. M1871 Vetterli and M1871/87 Vetterli-Vitali rifles. Also mounts to the 6.5 mm. M1871/87/16 Vetterli-Carcano rifle.

This example was made at Reale Fabbrica d' Armi di Torino (Arms Factory of Turin).

This is a very early example, with the long spring and without the cut out lower muzzle ring that Carter indicates was introduced in 1875. This example has it's original composition grip scales.

Many M1871 bayonets were subsequently shortened and/or had the lower quillion removed, making unaltered examples very desirable to collectors.