Rock Island Bayonet display basic casting to complete

[p246]

Picked this up tonight. Probably paid too much but it was different. 5 Bayonets starting with basic casting through steps to complete Bayonet.43045

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Pictures of casting is stamped HM13on left side of handle430464304743048

[p246]

Second Bayonet is also HM 13marked. Ricasso is also stamped RIA 1919 and has serial number 43380943049430504305143052

[p246]

Third Bayonet is a RIA 1918 serial number 372268. Machine work for handles done and hole for release and rivents have been drilled.4305343054430554305643057

[p246]

Number four appears complete but no handles nor is the release drilled. It’s marked HM 10 is a RIA 1918 serial number 357240
43058430594306043061

[m1ashooter]

Cool item.

[p246]

Last is a complete RIA 1919 dated serial number 366090.
43062430634306443065

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I’m not sure if some of these are rejects or what the story is. The serial numbers don’t really jive with the year necessarily, but I’ve never really paid attention to that before.

[free1954]

something different, that's for sure. as to paying too much, that depends on you.

[bruce]

Thank you for this post. Never imagined bayonets started as castings. Thought raw steel bars were forged, milled, heat treated, finished. To see some of the stages of the work is fascinating. No idea of reasonable cost or price paid. Looking back on stuff seen in 30 years, wish I'd paid the price some wanted then for some of that stuff. Today ... it'd be well worth what wa spent. Thank you. Sincerely. bruce.

[p246]

I looked in some of the books I have, but none really talk about the process they are originally made from. Hopefully someone on here knows. The first blank that has no machining has a gold color over most of the surface. This goes away with the others.

[hyrax222]

Second Bayonet is also HM 13marked. Ricasso is also stamped RIA 1919 and has serial number 43380943049430504305143052

What a great find! I'd be all over that like a duck on a June bug! 1919 was the last year of manufacture for R.I.A. Highest recorded serial no. is 434,698 ( per Frank Trzaska's web page, Gary Cunningham ).

[hyrax222]

So it appears that the serial number was stamped at the second stage after forging and before any machining?

This is a great study in the process!