Not sure if this is the correct subreddit, but you're historians and this is (I'm assuming) a historical thing. Found on the back of a bayonet, any idea what it is/says?

by lololmao7

http://imgur.com/r5JaY3t

longrifle

It says Mre d'armes de St Etienne Janvier 1876. Mre is short for "Manufacture" and d'armes means (you guessed it) "arms". So it is the makers mark for the state owned arms manufacturer in St Etienne, France in January 1876.

A little more information about the site

I have a sword from the Napoleonic Era that has Imperial France foundry markings along the spine and remember researching the origin so I recognized yours right away. Yours was also much easier to read, as the blade I have has some patina to it. Very cool item you have there!

bigjo66

It's French, and I can't make out the first word, but it says (something) of arms, St.Etienne, January 1876.

St.Etienne was, and is, a city with major armaments manufacturing factories in France.