This is a very rare and VERY FINE condition example of the Russian Model 1868 Socket Bayonet for the Colt Model 1868 Berdan I Rifle. In 1868 the Imperial Russian Government contracted to purchase 30,000 Berdan I breechloading .42 caliber infantry rifles from Colt. These were the first “small bore” metallic cartridge rifles acquired for the Russian military and the first rifles to be produced as breechloading self-contained metallic cartridge rifles, rather than being guns altered from percussion muzzleloaders. The bayonets had 20” triangular blades with a nearly full-length face fuller that terminated in a screwdriver tip. This was the first time the Russian’s incorporated the screwdriver tip into a bayonet design and it is a feature that would be part of most of their infantry rifle bayonets through the World War II period. The bayonet had a 3” socket with a .70” muzzle diameter and a 1.2” muzzle to stud distance. The bayonet had an overall length of 23”. The socket was mortised for a stud mounted on the right side of the barrel and the bayonet was located below the barrel when it was mounted, not to the right side as was more traditional. The bayonet was retained on the rifle with a conventional swiveling locking ring. When mounted on the rifle, the bayonet’s short shank with a flat faced rear was positioned directly in front of the cleaning and clearing rod. The bayonet was retained on the rifle with a conventional locking ring. The bayonets were finished in a rich, high-quality blue that was of the same quality as the finish Colt applied to the rifles.

The Russian Model 1868 Colt Berdan I Rifle was only a front line weapon for a limited amount of time, as it was officially replaced by the Model 1870 Berdan II Rifle only two years after it was initially adopted. However, the Berdan I Rifles remained in service for more some five decades, in less and less important roles, and with some seeing service during the Great War (WWI) as reserve weapons.

This example of a Rare Russian Model 1868 Bayonet for the Colt Berdan I Rifle remains in VERY FINE condition. It retains about 90%+ of the original deep, rich blued finish with some minor thinning and loss due to high edge wear. The metal is mostly smooth with some scattered areas of light surface oxidation and minor freckles of scattered roughness, most notably on the last 4” or so of the face of the blade, near the tip. The original locking ring is present and rotates smoothly, but the tension screw for the locking ring is missing. The locking ring some moderate thinning to the blue, which is fading and oxidizing to a plum patina. The bayonet remains in crisp condition and the screwdriver tip remains crisp and sharp as well.

Overall, this is a very rare and very high condition example of a Russian Model 1868 Socket Bayonet for the Colt Berdan I Rifle. These bayonets rarely appear on the market for sale, and this would be a fantastic addition to the display of your Berdan I Rifle, any collection of 19^th century Russian weapons and to any advanced collection of 19^th century European bayonets. In 25 years I have only had two of these rare bayonets, and these seldom appear on the market for sale. Don’t miss your chance to add this rare Russian socket bayonet to your collection.