Hi Fellow AR-10 Enthusiasts,
I have been way too distracted with work recently, but I have come across an incredible find for my collection of AR-10 stuff, which will someday culminate in a Portuguese AR-10.
By doing some digging and keeping up my AR-10 vigil, I came across a great deal on a Portuguese bayonet, which is in VG-EXC condition. Here it is:
I was really impressed with its condition, with the blade, ring, and pommel retaining much of their original finish, with only some scratches from being unsheathed and resheathed for parade on the right side of the blade (not the side with the crisp AI marking). The fabric was a little frayed on top of the frog and one of the bolts holding the grip screws is missing, but the wood and metal are quite nice.
It really started to get interesting when I flipped the scabbard over, however, and found this etching:
This was likely scratched here by the original user, and even though it may not be pristine (only on the backside of the scabbard), I consider this etching a mark of honor, and a connection to the brave man who carried it once. Hi Armeiro, I'm sure you are reading this, and knowing your font of knowledge about these rifles, I wouldn't doubt you could actually find unit rolls of Batalhio 21 and 31 of the Cacadores Paraquedista. If you do, can you find a name that matches the initials ZE, or do you think they have any other significance? Also, I cannot make out what the "NIHA" stands for either; I figure you might know, though.
What really made my day, though, was when I investigated the scabbard further. I had taken the bayonet apart completely (pictures below), but there was a strange kind of white lining just below where the metal and plastic intersected on the scabbard. To my surprise, the metal lifted off of the plastic, and wrapped around the plastic, saturated with cosmoline but still readable, were two scraps of old newspaper, in Portuguese! Here are both sides of them below:
The old look of this paper, as well as what is on it, lead me to believe that it was actually put there by the soldier who used the bayonet. On the front, is a tidbit that first mentions the book "Tarzan and the Lost Empire." I don't know of a movie being made of this book, but perhaps there was one in Portugal. It then seems to say something about manuscripts directly from the author, which may or may not have to do with the Tarzan listing above. On the other side, is part of a picture of a very young-looking Lee Van Cleef. The apparent age and the language of the paper makes me think it was definitely not added by a Dutch or American collector (from whom I bought it, I don't think he knew it was there), and also that it is indeed around the period of the Portuguese colonial wars in Africa.
Armeiro, I am sure you will be able to shed a ton of light on this, so I await your responses with bated breath...
Next, I learned something I didn't know about the Portuguese AR-10 bayonets (which are something of an information black hole); that they have serial numbers on the scabbard! I cannot tell if the first number on mine is a "7" or a "1," but if it is the former, this would probably mean it was issued paired with a particular rifle. Oh, to find that rifle... Here's a look at it:
Finally, here are some more good pictures of this fine bayonet, just for the sake of AR-10 bayonet porn!