Scarce* French Foreign Legion Paratroopers Fighting Knife Converted from 1917 Dated Remington U.S. Army Pattern 1913 Bayonet with Scabbard. BAYO 396. Bayonet

A rare example of the French Foreign Legion fighting knife officially made after WW2 by converting a Pattern 1913 U.S. Army Remington bayonet. It was a stop gap issue to their Paratroopers before they were issued the M3 fighting knife. The scabbard was suitably altered by the addition of a leather belt frog. Used as late as 1978 in Zaire these are very scarce knives. Fully documented and photographed in Ron Flooks booklet, 'A Photographic Primer of Military Knifes'. The bayonets slab wood grips with grooves are secured by the correct screw bolts. It’s sprung bayonet lug button works correctly. The shortened fullered blade measures 7 ¼” length (12 ¼” overall). The blade is blackened. The cross guard has correctly had its muzzle ring removed leaving a small finger guard. One side of the blade has 1913 (pattern) above Remington roundel and ‘4 ’17 date (April 1917). The reverse has ‘C2A’ and inspection marks. The shortened steel mounted leather scabbards leather frog is absent but has the belt loop. The leather of the scabbard has original green paint finish. The price for this rare fighting knife includes UK delivery. BAYO 396. (Fighting Knives/Hunting Daggers)