The French bayonets often have a solid brass pommel with integral
latching mechanism (push-button/spring-steel). The grips are wooden and
the crossguard of steel with upper guard being the muzzle-ring, lower
guard forming a hooked "blade-breaker" quillon. The scabbards
are usually blued sheet-rolled steel, semi-oval, tubular, with a ball
finial. The blades are of steel and usually marked on the back-edge
(opposite the bottom cutting edge) with the arsenal, month, and year of
manufacture.The French bayonets saw the great battlefields of the glorious wars. The bayonets were used effectively by the disciplined French infantry, who were highly trained in its use both as a firearm and with the bayonet fitted, as a thrusting weapon at close quarters. The speciality of the French bayonets was functional lock mechanism and accurate detailing.
