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Description: | mark stamped blade (left ricasso) crown above G.R.//1907//1 '16//WILKINSO - incomplete stamping
mark stamped blade (right ricasso) crowned X over 46//broad arrow//crowned W over E//9//crowned T5 over E//X//crowned 6W over E
The Pattern 1907 bayonet was developed for British Army use after the introduction of the Short, Magazine Lee Enfield Rifle. It was decided to introduce a long 'sword' bayonet, as the existing Pattern 1888 and 1903 bayonets were not considered to offer sufficient 'reach' in combination with the new 'short' rifle. Experiments were made with bayonets based on Japanese, US and French models, with the former eventually being selected.
Initially the Pattern 1907 featured a hooked quillon, but this was deleted from October 1913. The Pattern 1907 remained in front-line service until 1945 (even later in the hands of Australian and Indian forces). The only further change made in its manufacture was the addition of a cleaning hole in the pommel from 1916 onwards - as in this example.
Exhibition history: on display in the temporary (immediate pre-redevelopment) First World War exhibition, 1985-1988. WEA/797 was returned to store August 1988
Returned from NX/Horrible History 20/1/09
Master | Publisher: | http://www.iwm.org.uk | Source: | Imperial War Museum | Creator: | Wilkinson Sword Company, London | Identifier: | http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/o... | Go to resource |
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