Scarce, early Polish army issue bayonet for Lebel and Berthier rifles. This is a standard French made bayonet with a removable brass grip. A Polish army model designation is stamped on the brass grip, "wz. 86/93" (please, see pictures). Comes with an original French scabbard with blue finish. Shortened blade version with no quillon on the crossguard. Scabbard was also shortened. Matching Polish style serial numbers on the crossguard and scabbard. The latter displays also an old, mismatched French serial number. Many French rifles with bayonets were brought to Poland by Haller's "Blue Army". Furthermore, Poland had purchased in France many thousand of Berthier and Lebel rifles with bayonets during the Polish-Soviet War of 1919-1921. During the September 1939 campaign, most of these rifles and bayonets were issued to the second line Polish troops (Obrona Narodowa = National Guard). CONDITION: Fine. Blade is in fine+ condition with some minor dark spots. Some patina on the steel parts of the grip and on the crossguard. The scabbard is free of dents and displays about 84% of its original blue finish. All original condition. Very difficult to find Polish army Lebel/Berthier bayonet! This bayonet came from a very old Polish-American collection. (Janzen p.161/1).
