msdt Posted 29 October , 2013 Share Posted 29 October , 2013 Hi, I have just obtained a 1903 bayonet marked to the Grenadier Guards. It is dated 12 '03, with '08, '09 and '10 reissue marks. The marking is 2GG 46, with quite big G's. In addition, the same side of the pommel has stamped sideways: 15RD 42. I believe that this is 15th Regimental District. What is the significance of this mark? Cheers, Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shippingsteel Posted 29 October , 2013 Share Posted 29 October , 2013 Not sure about the RD ... it may be an Indian marking, as many P'03s later ended up in service with them, has the blade been blued at all.? Cheers, S>S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jay dubaya Posted 30 October , 2013 Share Posted 30 October , 2013 Can't help other than the Regimental District 15 is Argylshire Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordon92 Posted 30 October , 2013 Share Posted 30 October , 2013 Regimental Districts were formed 1 July 1881 as part of the second phase of the territorialisation scheme for the infantry known as the Childers reforms. Each Regimental District contained all the assets of each of the new regiments (regulars, Volunteers later TF, Depot, Militia later SR) and was usually commanded by a full colonel. The RD number was taken from the senior of the pre-1881 regiments that were formed into the new two battalion regiments in 1881, the first 25 regiments already having two battalions pre-1881. The 15th Regimental District was for the East Yorkshire Regiment whose Depot was in Beverley. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jay dubaya Posted 30 October , 2013 Share Posted 30 October , 2013 Apologies, I appear to be completely wrong Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msdt Posted 30 October , 2013 Author Share Posted 30 October , 2013 Thanks for the information. Neither mark is struck out, so I assume that the 2 GG mark was the original when the bayonet was new - it is a 1903 dated 1903, and then after the 1907's came in it went into store (08,09,10 marks). But then did it go to the 15th Regimental District inventory? Any further thoughts appreciated. It's not blued or refinished. Bit of a sleeper actually, very dirty, and in a decent '04 dated 1903 Land Pattern scabbard. V happy when I found it - didn't see the regimental marks until I had it in the daylight. They are visible now as I cleaned the surface rust off with oil and 0000 grade wire wool. Cheers, Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shippingsteel Posted 30 October , 2013 Share Posted 30 October , 2013 Sounds like a nice bayonet, and the scabbard would be a very nice find as well. The extra dates are actually reissue dates - upon leaving store, or after repair, etc. I don't know anything about the various Regimental Districts. You'd have to check if those dates fitted in with the known history ie. the period that certain RD existed. Cheers, S>S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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