Ordnance issue Pattern 1855 Lancaster Oval Bore Sappers and Miners or Engineers bayonet to the Royal Army Medical Corps.
£235
A scarce Ordnance issue Pattern 1855 Lancaster Oval Bore Sappers and Miners or Engineers bayonet to the Royal Army Medical Corps. Brass hilt with release catch to the left rear and flat spring to the right has press chequered leather grip scales. The right side of the pommel struck with R.A.M.C 346 for later issue to the Royal Army Medical Corps. Lancaster pattern brass cross guard with relief to the top of the muzzle ring to clear the view of the front sight when fitted to the rifle. Unique Lancaster’s pattern pipe back blade with false edge to the top front 10 inches is struck with Ordnance inspection stamps to the right side with EG to the rear of the spine. An impressive and graceful weapon the Lancaster bayonet was issued to the men of the Sappers and Miners regiments who later became the Royal Engineers to fit on the unique pattern of Lancaster bored short rifle with which they were armed. Like all of the British sword bayonets issued in Victorian times it serves well as a bayonet but is best suited to use on its own either as a short sword in combat or for use in cutting wood to build defences or breech enemy fortifications in the case of the engineers. This secondary use led to many of the surplus bayonets later being reissued like this one to the RAMC where they saw many years of service. In good condition with good clean blade and intact chequered scales. A scarce Ordnance engineers carbine bayonet in good condition.
