TOPIC:

Good Day Members,

I am very excited to have inherited this bayonett from my Uncle. I know next to nothing about it and would love to find out if anyone has any helpful information on it, such as the period it is from and whether it was likely to have been used during the Anglo-Boer War.

The Queens crown stamp and Queens Victoria Regina's initials seem to indicate that it would be from this period. The inspection date looks to be missing the year.

Could the stamp on the pommel be the regiment? 9 R.F?

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!

Regards, Gareth

"9 R F" is the regimental unit.

However, the 9th Royal Fusiliers were not formed until 1914.

I therefore think it is more likely that the letters are actually "9 R E" (with the lower part of the E worn away). The 9th Field Company Royal Engineers did indeed see service during the Anglo-Boer War.

For nominal roll, see: Royal Engineers, Field Company, 9th

This is a Pattern 1888 bayonet, as used in South Africa.





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Thank you Neville, much appreciated. I think you are right regarding the F being an E. There is clear wear on the lower part of the letter.

I will take a look at the RE nominal roll.

I agree RE most likely. Yours is a Mk II P1888 bayonet. In the photo attached (which comes from Terry Willson) the types are shown, top to bottom:
Mk.I 1st Model
Mk.I 2nd Model
Mk.II
Mk.III
Mk.III South African manufacture

Incidentally, I think your leather frog may come from a different unit, such as the Rifles, who wore black leather straps. The engineers wore buff leather equipment.

Wow, thanks for the info and photo Rob, I really appreciate it!

Interesting regarding the frog. It has 3 letters and the number 41 on it. I think the letters are FLD or maybe RLD. Maybe the soldiers initials because they look carved in whereas the 41 looks stamped.

Rob,

What's your take on the scabbard? The frog stud is odd, as is the scabbard's general build (all steel?). I wondered whether the scabbard and frog could be from a different type of bayonet altogether.



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