The item featured here is a late 1800's French army bayonet. The handle is made of wood and is secured in place by a rivet and part of the release mechanism. The pommel is metal and dove head type. The crossguard has a circular quillon on one direction and a muzzle ring on the other.

The scabbard is of metal construction and chromed. A single bracket is placed near the throat. This is how the bayonet is attached to the belt.

The blade is of single edge. It has a blood groove that covers close to the entire length of the blade. The date of 1879 and a few words are written on the spine. The base of the blade has two circular marks stamped on it.

The edge weapons from many countries are currently being reproduced. It is becoming more difficult to be able to tell the fake ones from the real ones because the quality of the reproductions are improving. The collector must become familiarized with the construction style and materials employed in the manufacturing of these medals. Attention to the details is critical in order to be able to determine the authenticity of the collectible.