Hirshfanger bayonet

Ron Anderson · 9th September 2010, 12:04 PM

Bryan

Thanks for your response. It was very illuminating.

However, there is a mechanism to attach to a firearm barrel. It is simply missing a spring, so that may be difficult to detect in the photo. In the eBay one I saw, the spring was still there.

The shaft you see on the side fits onto a firearm. Forgive me, I don't know much about guns or bayonets and don't really know the terminology used. However, it is a strange sliding mechanism that fits onto a barrel.

It is unusual to say the least, but it conforms to the mechanisms on other hirshfanger bayonets I've seen. It's not in the least like your standard military bayonet. This may not be military at all. It may have been used in civilian hunting for all I know - a hirshfanger that could clip onto a hunting rifle.

This is a sword-bayonet, by that definition, not just a sidearm.

You may well be right. This may well be English. It does look a bit like a band sword. But it also looks like a hunting sword. And it resembles other Hirshfanger bayonets I've seen.

Your post was very informed. Thanks. You've given me a bit to think about.

Ron Anderson · 9th September 2010, 12:16 PM

Here is an example of another Hirshfanger bayonet – Danish. It has almost exactly the same locking mechanism as my bayonet. The steel piece on this mechanism should be on mine but it is missing. You'll see the similarities with my bayonet in its style - both look like classic hunting swords, though this one with its odd shaped crown or crest still looks a bit like a hirshfanger. Mine has lost that shape, however the similarities are still clear. At least they're clear to me.

http://www.holmback.se/bayonets/Notes/Dan.htm

Ron Anderson · 9th September 2010, 12:26 PM

Ron Anderson · 9th September 2010, 12:28 PM

Sorry, I've been having difficulty pasting the exact link to the photo. Hopefully this works.

http://www.holmback.se/bayonets/pics...rk/m1848_3.jpg

Ron Anderson · 9th September 2010, 12:29 PM

Here is the other side of the Danish hirshfanger bayonet.

http://www.holmback.se/bayonets/pics...rk/m1848_2.jpg

Ron Anderson · 9th September 2010, 12:30 PM

It's worth noting that this is indeed a military issue item. I suspect mine must be too. But that's uncertain.

Ron Anderson · 9th September 2010, 12:46 PM

It appears that the hirshfanger bayonet is an oddity that even people here don't know about.

All I can say is that there are buyers on eBay who know about them because, once in a blue moon, one appears on eBay and ferocious bidding ensues.

I repeat, this is a hunting sword bayonet, not a fascine, not a pioneer sword, not a standard corps sidearm. Hirshfanger = a German hunting sword. Hirshfanger bayonet is subspecies of sword bayonet from the 19th century.

This is R.A.R.E.

I don't believe these things ever came out of England. I'd be surprised as heck if they were ever exported to South America. I think they are exclusively German/Scandinavian. (Collectors of German bayonets are most likely to know).

But go ahead, give me some information to the contrary. Make my day.

9th September 2010, 12:04 PM	#1
Ron Anderson Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 228	Bryan Thanks for your response. It was very illuminating. However, there is a mechanism to attach to a firearm barrel. It is simply missing a spring, so that may be difficult to detect in the photo. In the eBay one I saw, the spring was still there. The shaft you see on the side fits onto a firearm. Forgive me, I don't know much about guns or bayonets and don't really know the terminology used. However, it is a strange sliding mechanism that fits onto a barrel. It is unusual to say the least, but it conforms to the mechanisms on other hirshfanger bayonets I've seen. It's not in the least like your standard military bayonet. This may not be military at all. It may have been used in civilian hunting for all I know - a hirshfanger that could clip onto a hunting rifle. This is a sword-bayonet, by that definition, not just a sidearm. You may well be right. This may well be English. It does look a bit like a band sword. But it also looks like a hunting sword. And it resembles other Hirshfanger bayonets I've seen. Your post was very informed. Thanks. You've given me a bit to think about.

9th September 2010, 12:16 PM	#2
Ron Anderson Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 228	Here is an example of another Hirshfanger bayonet – Danish. It has almost exactly the same locking mechanism as my bayonet. The steel piece on this mechanism should be on mine but it is missing. You'll see the similarities with my bayonet in its style - both look like classic hunting swords, though this one with its odd shaped crown or crest still looks a bit like a hirshfanger. Mine has lost that shape, however the similarities are still clear. At least they're clear to me. http://www.holmback.se/bayonets/Notes/Dan.htm

9th September 2010, 12:26 PM	#3
Ron Anderson Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 228

9th September 2010, 12:28 PM	#4
Ron Anderson Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 228	Sorry, I've been having difficulty pasting the exact link to the photo. Hopefully this works. http://www.holmback.se/bayonets/pics...rk/m1848_3.jpg

9th September 2010, 12:29 PM	#5
Ron Anderson Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 228	Here is the other side of the Danish hirshfanger bayonet. http://www.holmback.se/bayonets/pics...rk/m1848_2.jpg

9th September 2010, 12:30 PM	#6
Ron Anderson Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 228	It's worth noting that this is indeed a military issue item. I suspect mine must be too. But that's uncertain.

9th September 2010, 12:46 PM	#7
Ron Anderson Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 228	It appears that the hirshfanger bayonet is an oddity that even people here don't know about. All I can say is that there are buyers on eBay who know about them because, once in a blue moon, one appears on eBay and ferocious bidding ensues. I repeat, this is a hunting sword bayonet, not a fascine, not a pioneer sword, not a standard corps sidearm. Hirshfanger = a German hunting sword. Hirshfanger bayonet is subspecies of sword bayonet from the 19th century. This is R.A.R.E. I don't believe these things ever came out of England. I'd be surprised as heck if they were ever exported to South America. I think they are exclusively German/Scandinavian. (Collectors of German bayonets are most likely to know). But go ahead, give me some information to the contrary. Make my day.