Original Italian M1871 Vetterli Rifle Early Long Spring Bayonet by Torre Annunziata - Unaltered Hotchkiss .303 The second was awarded for

The second was awarded for breaking up a group of enemy aircraft endangering bombers and destroying many of them on mission over Derben

each fitted with an original demilled finned barrel assembly

which is actually today in Belgium

somewhat worn but still secured by the original brass and copper braid wire

Crates measures 25” x 9

Original Italian M1871 Vetterli Rifle Early Long Spring Bayonet by Torre Annunziata - Unaltered Hotchkiss .303 The second was awarded forOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is a nice example of the sword bayonet for use with the 10. 4 mm. M1871 Vetterli and M1871 87 Vetterli Vitali rifles. This is a very early example, with the long spring for the bayonet catch, and without the cut out lower muzzle ring that was introduced in 1875 indicated by Anthony Carter in his work World Bayonets 1800 to the Present. This example also still has its original composition grip scales. The blade