Modelo Argentino 1909 Mauser
Sword Bayonet
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This bayonet was designed to fit the Modelo Argentino 1909
Mauser Infantry Rifle, manufactured in Germany under contract.
Most of these bayonets - if not all - were manufactured by
Weyersberg, Kirschbaum, and Cie. (company).
They are extremely well made and are usually found in
very-good to excellent condition.
They are found with wood grips, steel crossguard, and hooked
"blade-breaker" quillon. The latching mechanism is of the
push-button/internal-spring type.
The blades are straight, single-edged, and fullered on both
sides. The blades are usually stamped - on the ricasso -
with Weyersberg, Kirschbaum & Cie / Solingen on one side,
while on the other is the Argentine Crest (this is usually
ground off when released from the arsenal as surplus wares)
and Modelo Argentino 1909.
The scabbards are of sheet-rolled steel, ball finial, and
are usually dark "blued" finish (almost black).
Both bayonet and scabbard are stamped with a serial number,
beginning with an alpha-character prefix, followed by a
4-digit number. It is desired by collectors that both
bayonet and scabbard numbers match; otherwise they are
considered mis-matched.
The alpha-character indicates the ten-thousand unit, presumed
in order from A to Z. The alpha-character
A represents the first ten-thousand, so all serial
numbers beginning with A are from the first 10,000
of a production order. This would be followed by a B,
then C and so on and so forth through the alphabet.
A9785 would indicate bayonet number 9,785;
B9785 would indicate bayonet number 19,785.
It is also presumed that serial number A0001 would
indicate bayonet number 0001; serial number A0000
would indicate bayonet number 10,000. When single
alpha-characters are exhausted, production prefixes change
to double alpha-character prefixes, such as: AA,
BB, CC and so on.
These superseded the
Model 1891 Mauser Sword Bayonet (very similar but a little
smaller and with aliminum or brass grips).
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