US Model 1917 Bayonet with Home Guard Frog, by Remington 1917

Straight single-fullered 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. Olive green painted leather scabbard with steel locket & chape fittings, brass webbing hooks, brown leather frog with belt loop and retaining loop.

The blade is stamped on one side at the ricasso with the Shell and Flame (aka Flaming Bomb), the mark of the US Army Ordnance Branch, below which is ‘U.S.’, as well as an eagle head inspection mark and an ‘X’ indicating that it passed a manufacturer’s bending test, and on the other side with the manufacture date 1918 and a Remington roundel manufacturer’s mark. The leather of the scabbard is stamped on the rear side with ‘F.I.C.’ and the chape piece is stamped next to the staple with a faint oval maker’s mark. The frog is stamped near the retention loop rivets with ‘E’.

Due to the outbreak of WW1, manufacture of the new British P1914 Enfield rifle was contracted out to American manufacturers Remington and Winchester, including its matching 1913 Pattern bayonet. After the United States entered WW1 in 1917 the factories that had been producing for the British switched to supplying the same products to the US Army. In US service the P1914 Rifle became the ‘United States Rifle, Model of 1917’ with accompanying ‘Model 1917’ bayonet – both direct copies, now with US markings.

However, the distinctive pattern of frog that has been fitted shows that this bayonet did see use in British hands after all: it was issued to the British Home Guard during WW2, who were often armed with the M1917 or P1914 rifles, no longer standard issue but which still used current cartridges.

The blade is bright with only a few spots of light patination. It retains its original blued band at the ricasso and has no edge damage. The last 5cm or so of the edge near the tip appears to have been sharpened. or significant wear. The hilt, exposed tang and pommel retain their original blued finish, with very little wear even on raised edges like the locking button. The wood grips have only a few small dents. The scabbard fittings have a blue finish with very little wear. The chape piece has a patch of red paint applied to its reverse side. The leather of the scabbard has only light wear and a few small dents. The frog is very good with only light surface wear in places.