Indian WW2 1907 Pattern Bayonet, by Ishapore
Straight single-fullered knife blade with spear point, steel hilt with muzzle ring, wood slab grips secured by two screws, steel beaked pommel with oil hole and locking button. Black leather No. 1 Mk 2 scabbard with steel locket & round frog stud and steel chape piece. Khaki canvas frog with retention loop.
The bayonet is stamped on one side at the ricasso with the Tudor Crown, also known as the Imperial Crown for its use throughout the British Empire, ‘G.R.I’ (Georgius Rex Imperator, meaning George VI, who was the last Emperor of India until its independence in 1947), ‘1907’, the bayonet model, ’4 41’, meaning the bayonet was manufactured in April 1941, and ‘R.F.I’, meaning the manufacturer, the Rifle Factory Ishapore. It is stamped on the other side with three Indian inspection marks and an ‘X’ indicating the blade passed a manufacturer’s bending test.
The leather section of the scabbard is stamped next to the seam with ‘M/44 JBB 44’. The chape piece of the scabbard is similarly stamped next to the staple with ‘M/44’. This indicates the manufacturer J B Brooks & Co of Birmingham, which was assigned the manufacturing code ‘M/44’ during WW2. Brooks was contracted to produce 25,000 scabbards in 1944 (just the scabbards, no bayonets). The reverse of the canvas frog has been stencilled with ‘PM’, a broad arrow War Department mark, and ‘1942’.
These bayonets were made to fit the many SMLE No. 1 rifles made at Ishapore. Early production was like this example, direct copying of the British 1907 Pattern, but over time Indian bayonets became distinct from other Commonwealth countries with progressively simplified designs based upon the 1907.
The blade has a bright finish with some light patination, a few tiny nicks to its edge. The hilt and pommel similarly have some light patination. Some dents and scratches to the wood grips. The locking button is fully functional. The scabbard leather is good with only a few small abrasions to its surface. The canvas frog is a little dirty and has light rubbing wear.
