US M1873 Trowel Bayonet

Original era manufacture. Experimental bayonet from the early 1870's. The blade is very bright, no pitting, just some light spotting and staining to the surface. Nice blue finish to the socket and shank. A nice example, difficult to improve upon. A final note, these were sold surplus to Bannerman's of New York in the late 19th century. He sold these for years in his catalogs as garden tools for less than a dollar. Fun huh.