WW1 French Francais Armes & Cycles St Etienne Factory Made Aluminium Hilt Trench Fighting Knife With M1871 Gras Bayonet Blade & Original Steel Scabbard Dagger

**VERY RARE**WW1 French Francais Armes & Cycles St Etienne Factory Made Aluminium Hilt Trench Fighting Knife With M1871 Gras Bayonet Blade & Original Steel Scabbard. Sn 19858 - 19858

This a very rare, WW1 era trench fighting knife factory made to a high quality by the French arms manufacturer Francais Armes & Cycles St Etienne (see page 27 plates 93 & 94 of Fighting Knives by Fred Stephens where an example without scabbard is illustrated). The 9” long ‘T’ section blade is correctly made from the tip of a Model 1871 Gras bayonet and the cast aluminium hilt with integral cross guard and pommel end is finely chequered. The blade has just light staining consistent with age. The cross guard is marked on one side ‘Manufacture Francais Armes & Cycles St Etienne’ and the reverse ‘Brevete’ (patents). The knife measures 13 ½” overall length. The original steel scabbard, factory made from a section of Gras bayonet scabbard has no dents and retains its original black paint and factory applied steel belt clip. The price for this very rare WW1 piece in excellent condition includes UK delivery. Sn 19858

£975.00