British 1879 Pattern Martini Henry Artillery Carbine Bayonet
Straight single-fullered blade with sawback, steel knucklebow hilt with slit for sword knot and muzzle ring. Black pressed leather grips with chequering, steel pommel with external leaf spring. Black leather scabbard with steel chape and throat with teardrop frog stud. Blade 25 7/8 inches in length, the bayonet 31½ inches overall, muzzle ring 0.65 inches in diameter (1.65cm).
The blade is stamped on one side of the ricasso with a crown over ‘V.R.’, a Birmingham repair/refurbishment mark of a crown over ‘BR’ over ‘4’, a manufacture date of 11/83 meaning November 1883, and a reissue date ‘.00’ for 1900.
On the other side it is stamped with a broad arrow atop ‘WD’, meaning War Department property, a crown inspection mark with ‘E’, indicating that it was manufactured at Enfield, an ‘X’ which indicates that the blade passed a manufacturer’s bending test. The spine of the blade has another Enfield mark, a ‘W’ and an ‘R’. The exposed tang has another Birmingham repair mark, a letter ‘S’, ‘C4’ and ‘C’. The pommel is stamped near the mortise slot with another Enfield crown inspection mark.
The leather of the scabbard is stamped next to the seam with a broad arrow, another broad arrow atop ‘WD’, an ‘E’ for Enfield, indistinct crown inspection marks and a date. The frog stud is stamped with ‘7’.
When mounted to a carbine-length Martini Henry rifle the 1879 Pattern bayonet gave a soldier good overall reach, and with its substantial hilt it could also serve as a fighting sword. Its saw-toothed back would have found use in brush-cutting, like other similar designs popular during the 19th century. Production of the bayonets at Enfield continued until 1890.
The blade, hilt and throat piece of the scabbard all have a bright polished finish. The blade is unsharpened with no edge damage. The sawblade has only light wear with no broken teeth. The leather grips are undamaged with only light handling wear. The leather of the scabbard has some surface rubbing. The chape piece of the scabbard has some light pitting and spots of patination.
