WW1 Austro-Hungarian rarely seen Czech Lion M1895 Bayonet with Steel Scabbard

ON AUCTION IS A WW1 AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN M1895 BAYONET WITH STEEL SCABBORD. IT HAS A LION RAMPANT MARK ON THE RICASSO OF ONE SIDE WHICH IS A SYMBOL OF CZECHOSLOVAKIA.

THE 25CM LONG BLADE IS A SINGLE-EDGED STRAIGHT BLADE WITH A FULLER (BLOOD GROOVE) RUNNING DOWN THE LENGTH OF BOTH SIDES OF THE BLADE. It has a wooden grip attached to the tang of the blade with rivets. The pommel has an internal sp[ringloaded bayonet catch which allowed the bayonet to be securely attached to the rifles bayonet lug. The crossguar has a straight quillon (guard) with a circular hole known as a muzzle ring which fits over the rifles barrel to stabilize the bayonet when mounted.

THE BAYONET IS PAIRED WITH A METAL SCABBARD WHICH COULD BE WORN ON A SOLDIERS BELT.

Many M95 bayonets produced before 1918 were later marked with Czech national markings (like the Lion rampant) after World War 1. Some were also stamped with military acceptance marks.

LION RAMPANT MARK: The "lion rampant s mark" a post-WWI Czech military acceptance mark for a rifle or bayonet originally made for the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The "S" mark is an acceptance or property mark from the new Czechoslovak state, which used the M1895 rifle after the Austrian-Hungarian empire's dissolution. The lion rampant is a symbol of Czechoslovakia, and its presence indicates that the weapon was accepted and used by the Czechoslovak military after the war. 
 
'MO' MARK: Moravske Ocelarny (Moravian Steelworks, Olomouc), Czech marking
 
The M95 bayonet was initially developed for the M1895 Mannlicher straight-pull rifle, a standard issue rifle for the Austro-Hungarian military from 1895 onward. These rifles were used extensively in World War I and saw service with Austro-Hungarian forces across the European fronts. The M95 bayonet was designed to fit onto this rifle and provide the standard infantry soldier with a versatile tool for close-quarters combat.
 
After the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire following World War I in 1918, the newly formed Czechoslovak military inherited large stocks of M95 rifles and bayonets. These weapons were used by Czechoslovak forces through the 1920s and 1930s.
 
During World War II, when Czechoslovakia was occupied by Nazi Germany in 1939, many M95 rifles and bayonets were seized by the Germans and repurposed for use by their forces, particularly for rear-line troops, police, and second-line units.
 
THE M95 BAYONET WAS NOT JUST A WEAPON BUT A MULTI-PURPOSE TOOL. SOLDIERS USED IT FOR VARIOUS TASKS, INCLUDING CUTTING, PRYING, AND EVEN AS A UTILITY KNIFE DURING EVERYDAY ACTIVITIES IN THE FIELD. ITS COMPACT SIZE AND RELATIVELY SHORT BLADE MADE IT EFFECTIVE IN CLOSE-QUARTERS COMBAT BUT ALSO EASY TO CARRY.
 
The Czech M95 bayonet is a significant artifact from both World War I and World War II, reflecting the changing nature of European military forces during the early 20th century. Originally designed for use with the Steyr-Mannlicher M1895 rifle, it remained in service long after the Austro-Hungarian Empire dissolved, with notable usage by Czechoslovakia and later the Germans during the Nazi occupation. Today, the M95 bayonet is a popular collectible due to its historical significance and robust design.
 
DIMENSIONS: BAYONET 36CM LONG BLADE 25CM LONG
SCABBARD 26CM LONG
 
CONDITION: GOOD VINTAGE CONDITION. PLEASE SEE PHOTOS.
 
CZECHOSLOVAKIA AND THE AUSTRIAN HUNGARIAN EMPIRE:
The modern-day Czech lands of Bohemia, Moravia, and parts of Silesia was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. These regions were part of the Austrian-controlled portion of the empire, while Slovakia was in the Hungarian-controlled part. This territory remained under Austrian rule until the empire's collapse in 1918, when it became part of the new nation of Czechoslovakia. The Austrian Hungarian empire existed from 1867 to 1918. It was formed when the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary united under a single monarch. Despite sharing a head of state, the two entities had their own separate governments, parliaments, and internal policies, while maintaining joint control over foreign affairs and defense. The empire was dissolved after its defeat in World War I. 
 
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