trajan Posted 16 November , 2014 Share Posted 16 November , 2014 I don't usually buy from the web as I like collecting the traditional way - hunting the shops and markets! But I couldn't resist this one because of its unusual combination of marks... Ok, its a P.1888 Mk.I second type, Enfield made, 04/90, crown/66/E inspector marking on blade (also on the top of the blade-back). The pommel is marked '3/8 R.S.', over a scribed-out 852 serial, so 852 with a new serial '360' below. Scabbard has markings, too worn to read, and the top of the locket has a scribed-out '248' serial - 248 - with a new serial '397'. What makes this a bit of an oddity is that, according to the LLT: "3/4th to 3/8th Battalions inclusive Formed in 1915 as training units, all were redesignated as Reserve Battalions on 8 April 1916.On 1 September 1916, all were amalgamated into the 4th Reserve Battalion at Catterick.Moved to Edinburgh in November 1917, Haddington in April 1918 and Cupar at the end of the war." So, here we have a bayonet made in 1890 that was available to be unit-marked for the first time in 1915, with NO 're-issue' markings but with two serial numbers, indicating re-issue within the unit... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
303man Posted 16 November , 2014 Share Posted 16 November , 2014 I have one marked 9 RS which has at some time been barred out, will post pictures when I get a chance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trajan Posted 16 November , 2014 Author Share Posted 16 November , 2014 It would be nice to see that one. I would guess that if it is simply '9 R.S.' then it could have gone to the 9th when formed August 1914 (according to LLT), and before it became the 1/9 after the 2/9 was formed a month later, September 1914 (LLT) - but that's just a guess! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jscott Posted 16 November , 2014 Share Posted 16 November , 2014 Trajan - nice bayonet and interesting markings. I understand it's quite unusual for the 3/8 format to be used in bayonet markings (ie as compared to a simple 8RS marking), although I also own a P88 bayonet marked both 1/7 Northumberland fusiliers and the more standard 7NF format. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
303man Posted 16 November , 2014 Share Posted 16 November , 2014 The Markings on my 1888 pattern Bayonet with inspection mark for 1915 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jscott Posted 16 November , 2014 Share Posted 16 November , 2014 See #113 http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=194834&page=5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trajan Posted 17 November , 2014 Author Share Posted 17 November , 2014 See #113 http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=194834&page=5 Thanks JS! And of course no. 114 in the same same thread is my suggestion that somebody make an inventory of known marks - inspectors and units on these lovely P.1888's! Incidentally, I have done this for bayonets marked for WW1 German machine gun units, but that was a fairly straightforward task as there are books out there with these listed in them and many are featured on various web sites; and I have managed it also for RAF marked ones, but stopped after getting 19 or so as it was becoming quite clear that these almost certainly date to the time the RAF Regiment was formed. I guess we will have to await for a while something on P.1888 makings. I still find it slightly odd, though, that a bayonet could have gone so long without being unit-marked... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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