WW1 BRITISHPATTERN 1907 Mk 1 BAYONET FOR LEE-ENFIELD SMLE MADE BY R.F.I. - JUNE 1914.
This scare pieceis in very good condition. The blade shines like a sword on parade. The ricassomarks stand out boldly and the scabbard is in excellent condition.
This bayonet patternmarks the British War Department’s departure from the double-edged short knifestyle bayonet of the Pattern 1888 & 1903 to the single-edged long bladedsword bayonet. This was the standard bayonet used by British Imperial forcesthroughout WW1 and into the early stages of WW2.
The distinguishingcharacteristics of this bayonet are:
-Smooth walnut grip(not the typical double notch marks of the P1913s),
-Muzzle ring closeto the blade spine (again - unlike the P1913s),
-The pommel clearinghole indicates that this bayonet was modified by armourers in accordance withthe War Dept’s instructions sometime after April 1916. Therefore, it is likelythat this bayonet saw active use during WW1.
-Round endedlightning grooves towards the ricasso and blade point,
-Left ricasso: reignmark of King George V (1910-36) “G.R.I.”(Georgius Rex Imperator) prominent “1907” stampindicating bayonet pattern, “6-14” indicatingmfg date of June, 1914 and the “R.F.I.” RifleFactory Ishapore makers stamp,
-Right ricasso: two“Broad Arrow over I” stamps indicating WarDepartment/Ishapore acceptance mark, two inspectors stamps “IG over 7” and “?” (the othermark not fully legible) and “X” proof test stamp, and
-The scabbard,which is in excellent condition, is the correct model for this bayonet with thetrademark RFI round “button” frog stud.
Overall Length:550 mm / 21¾ in
Blade Length: 430mm / 17 in
Muzzle RingDiameter: 16.5 mm
Scabbard Length:455 mm / 18 in
Reference: Janzen’s pg57, #3
