| Pictures (click to enlarge) |
Type | Description | Blade Length |
Overall Length |
Muzzle |
Markings | |||
| in. | mm. | in. | mm. | in. | mm. | ||||
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Plug Bayonet |
Plug bayonet styled closely after the British military plug bayonet of the late 17th Century, used for "Other Ranks" (i.e., enlisted men). However, the markings are not typical of British military plug bayonets, so it is unclear who made and used this particular bayonet.
The markings on this example are on the crosspiece, rather than the blade, as is typically encountered on regulation British military plugs. The grip is walnut, when most British O.R. bayonets used less-expensive oak. British bayonets had a brass finial on the end of the pommel. This one has an iron washer. However, this could have been a repair, after the finial was broken or damaged. Surviving military plug bayonets for use by ordinary soldiers are very scarce. Because of this, I will probably never be able to precisely identify or date this piece. However, the latter part of the 17th Century is the most likely period of manufacture, circa 1690. |
7.125 |
181 | 12.125 |
308 | n/a |
Crosspiece (side): "F" and "4" (modern marks)
Crosspiece (front): cross and "3" (period marks) Crosspiece (back): cross or sword and "V" (period marks) |
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Pattern 1853 | Socket bayonet for use with the Pattern 1853 Enfield Rifle-Musket.
This example has no British government markings, indicating that it was likely imported to the USA during the American Civil War. According to British socket bayonet authority Graham Priest, the “J•R” marking indicates that the bayonet was likely made in Liege, Belgium. The other ricasso marking may be an incomplete CHAVASSE. There was a retailer, Horace Chavasse & Co., at Alma street, Aston Newton (near Birmingham, England) 1860 - 1868. Chavasse has been documented as also having marked P1856 sword bayonets. The socket length is 3.00 in. (78 mm.). |
17.25 | 438 | 20.25 | 514 | .787 | 20.0 | Ricasso: "P (dot) B" and “CHAVAS”
Socket (rear edge): 2 punch marks and 7 notches |
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Pattern 1888 Mk. I | Knife bayonet for use with the .303 caliber M1888 Lee-Metford and Long Lee-Enfield rifles.
This example was made in February 1899 at the Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield Lock (RSAF Enfield). The wood grips are secured by two large brass rivets. Pommel has clearance hole to accept the Lee-Metford rifle's cleaning rod and a clean-out hole in the grip, behind the aft rivet. Double-edged blade. |
11.875 | 302 | 16.625 | 422 | .655 | 16.6 | Ricasso (L. Side): Crown over 2 99". Various reissue dates "02, 03, and 03" and inspector's stamps.
Ricasso (R. Side): broad arrow proofmark over "EFD" Enfield inspector's mark (crown over 58 over E) and "X" bending test mark. Pommel: "2165" |
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Pattern 1895 | Socket bayonet for use on the .303 caliber M1895 Martini-Enfield rifle. The Pattern 1895 bayonets were altered Pattern 1876 bayonets, originally made for the caliber .577-450 Martini-Henry rifle.
This example was converted at the Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield Lock (RSAF Enfield) in January 1900. This example saw service in the Middle East, probably Egypt. According to Skennerton, Pattern 1895 bayonet conversions were only done at Enfield, with 86,234 conversions done between 1895 and 1902. Alterations include compressing the socket to the smaller diameter, filling the original mortise, and cutting a new mortise 90 degrees from the original to allow the bayonet to hang underneath the barrel when fixed. A filled portion of the original P1876 mortise is visible under bright light. The socket length is 3.00 in. (78 mm.). |
21.50 | 546 | 25.125 | 638 | .650 | 16.5 | Ricasso: broad arrow proofmark and "1 00" and Enfield inspector and bending test proof marks.
Blade (Right): "479" in Arabic Blade (Left): "184" in Arabic lined through and British inspector mark |
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Pattern 1903 | Knife bayonet for use with the .303 caliber Short, Magazine, Lee-Enfield No. I Mk. III (SMLE) rifle. This rifle was the British mainstay during World War I. The SMLE also saw extensive use by Commonwealth countries during World War II.
The Pattern 1903 design combined the Pattern 1888 blade and crosspiece, with a new pommel design. The P1903 had a short service life, as the blade length was determined insufficient when combined with the shorter rifle. This example was made in October 1903 by the Wilkinson Sword Co. Ltd., 53 Pall Mall, London S.W. 1 and appears to have underwent repair at the Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield Lock (RSAF Enfield) in 1916. The P1903 was produced for British use from 1903-1907, at which time the P1907 was adopted. New production will carry dates in the aforementioned period. Many earlier P1888 bayonets were also rehilted with the P1903 pommel. These will have earlier dates. Commercial production for colonial use may have continued beyond this period (see the commercial example shown on the Afghanistan page). |
11.75 | 298 | 16.50 | 419 | .660 | 16.6 | Ricasso (left): "10 03"
Ricasso (right): broad arrow, bend test mark, Enfield proofmarks, "16", and "Wilkinson, Lond." |
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Pattern 1907 | Sword bayonet for use with the .303 caliber Short, Magazine, Lee-Enfield No. I Mk. III (SMLE) rifle. The Pattern 1907 bayonet is widely recognized as the bayonet used with the SMLE in both World Wars.
Millions of P1907 bayonets were produced in Britain, Australia, India, and the USA. This example was made in December 1918 by Sanderson Bros. & Newbould Ltd., Newhall Rd., Sheffield, Yorkshire. The scabbard pictured is a No. I Mk. II scabbard with the teardrop frog stud. Some scabbard producers adopted a round frog stud, which was approved in 1915. |
17.00 | 432 | 21.75 | 552 | .655 | 16.6 | Ricasso: Crown over "GR" over "1907" over "12 18" over "Sanderson" and broad arrow proofmark
Scabbard: British inspector's mark on chape. |
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