Butcher Bayonet (Sawback)

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by M ELEY

Hello Brian,
Jim, its interesting that you say that this was one of your first pieces, as it was mine! I always liked these type bayonets and mine had a rare maker mark, but it had been polished with naval jelly or some such, completely ruining the patina. Brilliant summation and I would only add that besides pioneer swords, there were some hunting hangers that also had the saw teeth, presumably to help gut/saw up the game? Grisly, but true. Still a nice WWI era piece...

Hi Mark,
Thats spooky!!! Of course back in those days in war surplus stores there were piles of bayonets of all kinds in barrels...about 50 cents or so each!
You're right, the old 17th century Hounslow hangers had sawtooth backs, so it wasn't as if these were unheard of.

All the best,
Jim