Pattern 1913 bayonet retained for US service in its correct scarce 1st model green painted leather scabbard with riveted belt hangar.
£255
A rare US issue Pattern 1913 bayonet manufactured for the British army in 1917 retained for US service with the M17 .30-06” rifle in its correct scarce 1st model green painted leather scabbard with riveted belt hangar. Hilt with release button to the left side has walnut grip panels cut with two grooves to differentiate the P13 from the British Patt 1907 bayonet then in service with the SMLE rifle. Fullered blade struck to the left side with REMINGTON and 1913 over 10 17 for manufacture in October 1917 and to the right with various British military inspection stamps and broad arrow ordnance ownership marks, which have been barred out on being taken into US army stores with US stamped below to show American ownership. In its scarce green painted US issue 1st model scabbard stamped to the rear G & K 1917. The standard British issue scabbard for the P14 bayonet with a riveted hangar to allow carry of the bayonet on the then standard 1910 US webbing belt. The scabbard was designed by Hiram Percy Maxim, the son of the famous inventor of the machine gun but it proved to be fragile in service and was soon replaced by the common MkII variant with the hangar built into an adapted locket. When the US entered the Great war the M17 was adopted as a front line service rifle to arm the rapidly expanding forces being sent to France. About 1.9 million M17 bayonets were made, but 545,000 contract P14 bayonets which are identical except for the markings were retained for issue to the US army in adapted scabbards and US marked to the blade. In good condition with nice clean, well marked blade in a very good example of the scarce Mk1 scabbard retaining much of its original green paint finish. A nice example of a rare British bayonet taken into US service during WW1.
