Royal Navy Issue 1909 dated Pattern 1907 bayonet by Enfield with Hook Quillion removed in service.
£295
An early, February 1909 dated, Pattern 1907 bayonet by Enfield with Hook Quillion removed in service and Royal navy issue markings. Early pattern hilt with no clearing hole to the pommel has bolt retained grip scales and release catch to the rear left of the pommel. The pommel stamped to the front of the release button with a large N Royal navy issue mark. Cross guard with bayonet boss loop to the top has plain base with the original hooked quillion to the underside removed in service during factory refurb according to Ordnance instructions of the time. Fullered single edged blade is struck to the rear left with a Crowned GR over 1907 2 ’09 EFD for manufacture in February of 1909 at the governments Royal Ordnance Factory at Enfield Lock in North London. The right side marked with a Broad Arrow ordnance ownership mark next to an N naval issue mark, an X bending test mark and several inspection marks along with an indistinct refurbishment date at which time the hook would have been removed to bring the bayonet up to current issue standard. In its original steel mounted black leather scabbard with Enfield inspection stamps to the locket, the throat stamped twice with N naval issue marks. Issued with the Pattern 1907 SMLE rifle the ’07 bayonet had a longer blade than the old 1888 to give the same reach on the new shorter rifle and a hook to the underside of the cross guard to catch an enemy blade and break it in combat. In October 1913 the hook quillion was abolished from new production arms as an unnecessary refinement and all existing bayonets such as this one had the hook removed when returned to a depot or factory for inspection or repair. None the less pre WW1 ’07 bayonets are rarely seen and naval issue weapons are even scarcer with few being originally issued to the senior service as compared to the army. In good issued condition with a few dents and scrapes to the grips, clean blade with good Naval marking, working catch and a nice scabbard with both Enfield factory and royal Navy issue markings. A scarce pre Great War bayonet with its quillion removed, issue marked to the Senior Service that would have seen service through WW1.
