This is a typical plug bayonet from the Andalucia province in southern Spain. Bayonets of this type were often made in the town of Ronda de la Frontera although they were probably made in other towns as well. These bayonets were made by local blacksmiths and evidently the production became sort of a cottage industry in Ronda de la Frontera. This bayonet has a handle of turned horn. The blade tang goes through the handle and is peened over without the benefit of a pommel. The cross guard is made of brass. It consists of a central disk deeply engraved with toothed decorations and two round quillons. The quillons each terminate in a disc and ball finial. The blade has the typical triangular shape. It is single edged with a false edge extending 107 mm back from the tip. The ricasso is clad in brass held in place by two rivets on each side of the blade. The bottom edge of the brass plate is decorated with toothed notches. The brass plate is decorated over all with lines referred to as "wriggle-work". This wriggle-work was not very deeply incised and is almost worn away. I am always interested in purchasing plug bayonets of any type. Please let me know if you have anything like this for sale. I would like to thank Roger Evans for much of the background information on this bayonet.
The dimensions are as follows: Overall length 332 mm; Blade length 220; Blade width 40; Blade thickness 8.25; Handle length 112.
