RENOUX PIERRE: FRENCH SOCKET BAYONETS. 33425

RENOUX PIERRE: FRENCH MILITARY SOCKET BAYONETS. 33425

Second-hand book.
Hardcover. 240 pages. A4 format. Over 300 photographs.
Published by Éditions du Brévail.

This book is the result of over fifty years of collecting, several years of archival research, consulting and cross-referencing numerous ancient and modern books, such as "les mémoires d’artillerie" by Pierre Surirey de St Remy in its three editions, as well as the works of J. Boudriot and R. Marquiset, in addition to studying pieces from many private collections, including my own, and museums.

Here, I will only describe French military socket bayonets, excluding the many purchases of foreign regulation weapons that may have been made from foreign countries in times of serious crisis, such as the Franco-Prussian War, or for evaluation purposes. Similarly, I will limit the discussion to the last "true" socket bayonet adopted in France for the 1874 model Gendarmerie cavalry carbine. This choice is made to avoid delving too far, risking losing focus. Some already know how verbose and passionate I can be about this subject, which represents a significant part of my non-professional life.

Unfortunately, I cannot assure you that all pieces are described or listed here, as many items, primarily from the 17th and 18th centuries, are known in collections or museums, but there is no definitive way to identify them. For some, I have found information; for others, I am left with conjectures. And for a few, I have hesitated to include them here, uncertain even of their country of origin, as similar principles could have emerged simultaneously in various places or been copied. The same applies to 19th-century bayonets, though the archives are more extensive and allow for more precision, despite significant gaps that I regret.

You will note that I reference many excerpts from documents, books, and correspondence. In all cases, these citations appear in italics within quotation marks and strive to maintain the original document's spelling as closely as possible, which sometimes brings surprises and often poses comprehension challenges.

You may also be surprised to find numerous differences from certain past or current identifications that are still considered authoritative. This is normal because archives are often incomplete, and for those that have survived the centuries, they are not always perfectly clear, leading to various interpretations of the text. The interpretations I have had to make may not always align with those of my mentors, authors, or collectors, but I have approached them impartially, drawing from my knowledge of ancient documents and the industrial imperatives that may have arisen, including various historical accounts I have consulted.

Through these research efforts, I have endeavored to correct what falls within the realm of the "collective unconscious" of collectors. To some of you readers, my views may seem iconoclastic, a label I proudly accept, as challenging outdated and deeply entrenched ideas is the work of an iconoclast.

Like any book, especially one on such a vast subject, this work is incomplete and likely still flawed in certain aspects. I fully acknowledge these errors. This book is my creation, and I am simply a curious amateur; I do not possess the qualifications of a historian.

My hope is that this work serves as a reference for you, laying the foundation for future researchers younger than myself to build upon. I trust that it will be continued and expanded upon by other authors who share the same curiosity and have the opportunity to delve even further into this knowledge, drawing from documents that may have eluded me in my research. I also hope that it offers you a fresh perspective on this fascinating subject, often overlooked by "classical" authors and even by many collectors. It is indeed a challenging, underappreciated topic, to the extent that some collectors, in jest or out of camaraderie towards us amateurs or enthusiasts of socket bayonets, consider it the "dark side of collecting." With this book, I hope to have contributed in some way to pushing back the boundaries of this obscurity.

It is customary to acknowledge all those who have aided or contributed to the creation of a book. Their numbers are so many that naming them all would risk oversight and disappointment for some. Therefore, I express my general gratitude to all who offered guidance, assistance, access to their collections, or simply supported me during the writing of this book. I am confident they will recognize themselves. However, among them, I wish to extend special thanks to Philippe Mouret for the lengthy discussions we had on the subject, from which I gained many new insights.

I reserve a special thought for the one who was my mentor and who directed me towards this unique world of collecting long ago. Unfortunately, he is no longer here to judge the outcome of his guidance, which is why I dedicate this book to him, hoping that there is a paradise for collectors, and he holds a cherished place among his peers. René Maussion, my mentor, I thank you for all you did for me over the years.

Condition: Like new.