British 1903 Pattern Bayonet

Spear pointed unfullered blade, wood scale grips secured with two screws. Steel beaked pommel with locking button and clearance hole, steel hilt with short quillon and muzzle ring. Black leather scabbard with steel throat and chape.

The blade is stamped on one side of the ricasso with a crowned ‘E.R.’, ‘1903’ the pattern, a production date of 5 ’05, meaning May 1905. On the other side it is stamped with a broad arrow meaning War Department property, ‘EFD’ meaning the manufacturer, the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield, a crown inspection mark with ‘E’ for Enfield and an ‘X’ which indicates that the blade passed a manufacturer’s bending test. The spine of the blade has another ‘E’ crown inspection mark and the number ‘6’. The wood grips are stamped between the screws with ‘B5’ over ‘E’ – this mark actually feels embossed, raised from the surface rather than indented.

The leather section of the scabbard is stamped on the reverse side next to the seam with a further broad arrow, ‘EFD’, two Enfield crown inspection marks and ’01, suggesting it was manufactured at Enfield in 1901. The scabbard fittings are each stamped next to the staple with a crown and ‘E’. The 1888 and 1903 patterns used the same scabbard and existing stocks would have been used with new production at Enfield, so this is not necessarily a mismatch.

The blade is clean and bright, with only tiny spots of patination and no edge damage. It retains its original band of blueing at the ricasso and its clear crisp markings suggest that it has not been significantly repolished. The hilt and pommel have a blued finish. The scabbard fittings have some mottled dark patination. The scabbard leather is good with only light rubbing. The wood grips are very good with only light surface dents and no chipping.