Premier Fine Art & Antiques Auction
August 29, 2023
Below is just a small portion of the massive selection of high quality art & antiques to be featured in our upcoming August 29th 2023 auction! This auction will span multiple genres of collectibles, including Fine Paintings & Art, Jewelry & Silver, Orientalia, Rare Glass & Lamps, Early & Victorian Furniture, Decoys, Carvings, Coin-Op, & MORE!
Extrordinarily Rare Correct Springfield 1902 Krag Bolo Bayonet.
02-18444
10 5/16″ bolo type blade with approx. 4″ false edge. Blade is marked on left ricasso “1902”; marked on right ricasso “US”. Straight crossguard with muzzle ring. Walnut grips fastened by 2 rivets. Birds head pommel. Blued steel scabbard with oscillating metal belt loop, ball tip with drain hole and steel throat secured by single rivet. These bayonets are one of the rarest of American bayonets as only 56 bayonets & scabbards were mfg.; 50 in May 1902 & 6 the following year. 48/50 were sent to the Philippines for field trials. The purpose of the Bolo blade was to provide troops w/ a more serviceable bayonet than the knife type. It would then also serve for cutting heavy undergrowth when moving through jungle terrain. It’s wide blade was hoped to be useful sod digging in lieu of a dedicated entrenching tool. It appears very few of these 48 bayonets were returned to the U.S. & the probable low number returned coupled with the additional 6 makes these bayonets very hard to find.
PROVENANCE: From the Lifelong Collection of Glen E. Mattox.
