Bought WWI/WWII Bayonet in Mixed Lot (1 Viewer)

[Gideon]

I was at a country auction this past weds and picked up this bayonet in a box lot.

I id'd it as a Chapman 1907 and did some research. Apparently, this was issued during WWI through WWII and was standard issue for the Lee-Enfield rifle used by ANZACS (Australian and New Zeland infantry units)

I got this information pretty easily but I can't ID mine as a WWI or WWII issue. Also, the belt attachment is a color I haven't seen - kind of light khaki/beige sand colored.

Does anybody know what this is? Which war it was issued in and maybe where it served? I do know that there is a strike date of either 1916 or 1918 so it is that old.

Other than that, I have to say, it is very well balanced and formidable feeling. I would not want to be on the receiving end of one of these.

 

[PolarBear]

Could it be from a WWI Aussie in the Middle East or at Gallipoli? They had the color webbing you show. Examples--Left to right 1st 2 from the Middle East and last from Gallipoli (black scabbard however)
(Wilson Edward)

 

[trooper]

It is unlikely to be an Australian issue bayonet as the Aussies would have been armed with the patterns produced at Lithgow or the Orange Arsenal which would have been marked accordingly. This one was produced by James A Chapman Ltd of Sheffield and the date of manufacture should be shown stamped immediately below the pattern date (1907) ie 11 14 indicating November 1914. In WW2 production was limited to Wilkinson (Britain), Ishapore (India) and Orange Arsenal (Australia). The bayonet frog is the standard British pattern which has not seen blanco for many a long year and has lapsed to it's normal colour. It could have been used in both world wars as, unlike rifles, bayonets don't wear out very easily. It could have been carried and used by any British regular or territorial regiment.

 

[Gideon]

Gallipoli was a thought as these saw service there but I think those had a hook like thing that came out from the hand guard. Do the back of these figures show that? Apparently, they changed the hook thing to the hand guard you see on mine because when they were turned in for replacement or servicing, that hook was often cut down

I don't there's any shortage of these around depending on manufacturer. Wilkinson made the most at over 1 miliion and Chapman made about 300,000 but its an interesting piece none-the-less.

 

[trooper]

The 1907 pattern was originally designed with a quillon, (the hook shaped piece on the guard) which was supposed to be an aid in bayonet fighting. These were ground off normally but for some reason unknown the Indian issues did not always conform to this. In consequence suviving examples with the quillon are much rarer and very much more expensive. at present a standard bayonet, such as the one shown is selling through dealers here for £70 an unaltered Indian pattern fetches in the region of £300. As the alterations were normally made when the bayonets were returned to store it is quite possible that both versions could have been seen at Gallipoli, but as stated in my earlier post it would have been used by a British unit rather than ANZAC.

 

[PolarBear]

Gallipoli was a thought as these saw service there but I think those had a hook like thing that came out from the hand guard. Do the back of these figures show that? Apparently, they changed the hook thing to the hand guard you see on mine because when they were turned in for replacement or servicing, that hook was often cut down

I don't there's any shortage of these around depending on manufacturer. Wilkinson made the most at over 1 miliion and Chapman made about 300,000 but its an interesting piece none-the-less.

The figure photos from Treefrog I posted only show that view. You could email Craig at Wilson Edward: soldiers@aapt.net.au for other views?