18th century Spanish plug bayonet during the time of Carlos III (King of Spain from 1759 to 1788). One of the earliest developments of the combat bayonet, introduced circa 1625-1660, the plug-style bayonet was a game changing development in armament, allowing a group of riflemen or musketeers to become a pike or spear formation at a moments notice, rendering dedicated pike and spear men virtually obsolete and cementing the firearm as the dominant battlefield weapon. Measuring 15 inches overall, the 9 inch double edged spear-point blade has a diamond cross section on the top half and a lozenge cross section on the lower, engraved with the Abbreviated Coat of Arms of the Spanish Monarch, Golden Fleece variant (c.1700-1868) over "Diego Morales", and the reverse showing a crown over "C3" (Carlos III, 1716-1788) over what appears to be "Oaxaca". Oaxaca is a state and a city in what is currently Mexico, and was part of the territory seized by Hernan Cortez following his dismantling of the Aztec Empire and would have been a Spanish holding during the period of these markings. Fitted with a turned steel cross guard, 3 inches wide, with a finely shaped rosewood grip, featuring a flared section around a round ball, and a narrow steel pommel. With a steel fitted brown leather scabbard. Provenance: The William Ashby Collection

Fine. The blade is bright, with mild sharpening marks, light pitting, and crisp engraving. The hilt shows minor handling marks and pressure dents, and the leather is dry, with light cracks.