Indian WW2 1907 Pattern Mk II* Bayonet, by Jhelum Arsenal
Straight unfullered knife blade with clipped point and 2-inch false edge. Wood grips secured by two screws, beaked pommel with oil hole. Black leather scabbard with steel throat and chape. Blade 12 inches in length, the bayonet 16 5/8 inches overall.
The bayonet is stamped on one side at the ricasso with ‘Mk. II’, the bayonet model, ’11 43’, meaning the bayonet was manufactured in November 1943, and ‘JU’, meaning the manufacturer was the Jhelum Arsenal (in what is now Pakistan). It is stamped on the other side with two Indian inspection marks.
The throat piece of the scabbard is stamped next to the staple on one side with ‘C^117’, with ^ being a broad arrow War Department mark, and the number ‘8’ overstamped. The alphanumeric code may indicate a particular contractor and is similar to the British wartime numbering system for that purpose. The chape piece of the scabbard is likewise stamped on one side with ‘C^117’, with ‘I.M.’ overstamped.
These bayonets were made to fit the many SMLE No. 1 rifles made at Ishapore. The Mk II began the process of progressive simplification of the 1907 Pattern in Indian service, having a new unfullered blade (the Mk I used shortened original blades) but the hilt, grips and pommel were all left unchanged. Later models modified the pommel and grips to further reduce the number of manufacturing steps required. The Mk II* was simply the Mk II with the addition of a false edge to the blade.
You may notice that the model stamp is incorrect – this is certainly a MkII* due to its false edge, but the stamp shows ‘MkII’. Incorrect factory stamping is a known phenomenon with Indian bayonets, as well as failing to add stamps for conversions, factory repairs and so on. See British & Commonwealth Bayonets by Skennerton & Richardson, p348 and 349: they write that “some of the MkII* conversions were not marked with the additional ‘*’“.
The blade, hilt and pommel retain their original blued finish. A few small dents to the wood grips, one small chip on one side next to the hilt. The scabbard leather is very good with only a few light dents and abrasions.
