French Bayonet

Grab Some Historic French Bayonets for Your Collection

French bayonets come in several styles or types to suit various purposes, and you can add different designs to your collection of antique or vintage edged tools. You will find a nice selection of inexpensive FAMAS, Berthier, and Lebel rifle bayonets for sale on eBay. Understanding how some of these designs work can help you select the authentic French bayonets that meet your specifications.

The French military produced a few different versions of the antique bayonets you can find on eBay. Each type had a particular purpose and its own design elements. Here are a few of the kinds of bayonets you should come across during your search:

• Standard - The standard type of edge weapon is meant to connect to a specific rifle the soldier might be using. There are attachments for Berthier or FAMAS bayonets, and different models can work with several rifles from the same brand.
• Sword - Some of the French bayonets that you find for sale on eBay have a longer blade length than the standard varieties. They can be worn and used more like a traditional sword if necessary. All lengths for bayonets are listed in US measurements. See the manufacturer site for details.
• Needle - You can find some bayonets that were designed with narrow, needle-like points and thin blade profiles.

The French installed a couple of safety features in most kinds of bayonets they produced. Some of these design elements served dual purposes. Many of the bayonets you'll find on eBay have guards with extended edges that curve on one side. This design is meant to serve as a place to rest your thumb and gain greater purchase on the handle or control over the blade. It can also serve as a protective piece for your fingers when you grip the handle below it.

There are a few ways you can use eBay to find the French bayonets that might work for your collection of memorabilia:

• Era - Different French bayonets may have used slightly altered designs depending on the era of production. You can find bayonets that were produced in particular years or for specific models, such as the French Gras bayonet of 1879.
• Accessories - You can find affordable unused and vintage bayonets both with and without scabbards.
• Materials - Most French bayonets use a combination of wooden and metal handles along with carbon or stainless-steel blades.