Actually this is an official conversion, done at the early 1900's by the Argentine army, to fit its Engineers carbine. The peculiar small half-moon ring is to accomodate the cleaning rod. It has a matching issue cut-down iron scabbard. WEYERSBERG KIRSCHBAUM were official suppliers of edge weapons to several South America countries.
I had one (with the scabbard) in my collection years ago, when I was into bayonets.
Check Homer Brett's The Military Knife & Bayonet p.45.
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