Hey folks, I got this old bayonet, sword that has some writing etched on it.
Looks like it might be french ?
Anybody here able to cyfer it out into english for me ?
I got the date ... that's about it
Thanks

Two years in high school and two years in college. Nearly sixty years ago. Don’t remember any at all.

How about trying to spell it out under a search engine?

That was going to be my next plan, but really don't recognize many of the letters.
Might work tho, thanks.

Monsieur Ormes of (from) ?? Etiome(?), April 1875

More of Arms of SE Ettems Geril 1875

St Etienne was a govt armory for France.

Manufacturer of arms St Etienne otherwise known as MAS. I am fairly certain you have a Gras sword bayonet.

Thanks MUCH folks,
Always wondered.
I know we've had it for 80+ years, and always wondered.
Cheers !

Ksfowler got it right. St. Etienne is the gun making center in France.... for all guns. Every European country has such a tradition because of the proof house being located there.

In Belgium it is Liege. Some countries had two.

Cool piece.

Pete

Awesome Piece

Thanks folks !

Gras ... search led me here:
http://arms2armor.com/Bayonets/fren1874.htm

"The blades are usually marked on the back-edge (opposite the bottom cutting edge) with the arsenal, month, and year of manufacture; this is done in engraved cursive fashion and will appear something like, "Mre d' Armes de St. Etienne Janvier 1874" or perhaps "Mre d' Armes de Chatellerault Juin 1882". Contrary to novice speculation, this is not the name of a lieutenant or major, nor is it a presentation date; in reality - as previously stated - it is the the exact month, year, and location of manufacture.
French arsenal locations I have observed are: Chatellerault, L'Deny Paris, Paris-Oudry, St. Etienne, and Tulle. There is also an arsenal located in Austria and these are marked Steyr."

Thank ya folks !

And here we find the EXACT model.
http://arms2armor.com/Bayonets/fren1866.htm
French Model 1866 "Chassepot"
Yataghan Sword Bayonet

Thanks again folks,
CF