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Bayonet & Scabbard, d. 1878, FG 21744

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Bayonet & Scabbard - Dated 1878, of steel, brass & oak with the following markings: On the scabbard: FG.21744; at the tip of the scabbard an impressed 'M' and an impressed '4'; On the bayonet guard: M 44819 & three impressed markings, a 'J' in a square, an 'M' in a circle and a crown over a star in a circle (see images). Underside of the grip: an impressed 'E'. On the flat top of the blade: Mre d'Ormes de St. Etienne 8 bre 1878. On the top of one side of the blade: impressed within a shield is an crown over an 'O' and impressed within a circle is an 'M'.
Size: Blade: 20-1/8" L X 3/4" W x 3/8" Thick
Size Overall in Scabbard: 26" Lx4"W x 1.25" D
Weight: 11lb 14oz
Condition: Excellent
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This bayonet was the last of the French "sword-type" bayonets. It was manufactured to fit the French Model 1874 "Gras" Infantry Rifle, basically a refinement of the Model 1866 Chassepot Infantry Rifle. The "Gras" was manufactured from 1874 to about 1885.
This bayonet has a solid brass pommel with integral latching mechanism (push-button/spring-steel). Grips are wood. Crossguard is steel, usually "blued," with upper guard being the muzzle-ring, lower guard forming a hooked "blade-breaker" quillon.
Blades are steel - well made - and triangular (3-edge) in form (very sturdy as a thrusting weapon). The blades are usually marked on the back-edge (opposite the bottom cutting edge) with the arsenal, month, and year of manufacture; this is done in engraved cursive fashion and will appear something like, "Mre d' Armes de St. Etienne Janvier 1874" or perhaps "Mre d' Armes de Chatellerault Juin 1882".
The scabbards are usually blued sheet-rolled steel, semi-oval, tubular, with a ball finial.
These bayonets replaced the Model 1866 "Chassepot" bayonet (and corresponding infantry rifle), and were replaced by the French Model 1886 Lebel Bayonet (aka "Rosalie") (and corresponding infantry rifle).
Several other countries used this bayonet, including Greece (these are marked "Waffenfabrik Steyr" or "Usine de Steyr"), Germany (many modified variants), Ireland, and others; Portugal also used a variant for their Portuguese Kropatschek Navy Rifle, but their bayonet has a straight back-edge on the grip (no hump).
The French Model 1874 "Gras" Bayonet has a colorful history was used by the French Foreign Legion on more than one occasion.

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