trajan Posted 21 January , 2015 Share Posted 21 January , 2015 A dealer friend in Turkey sent me details of this which I know will be of interest to others on GWF. It was in a sale that closed last week (and I suspect he had me in mind as a potential buyer!). See: http://www.warstuff.com/RARE-1902-TRIALS-PATTERN-1903-Sword-Bayonet-Date-i1556216.htm, from where these photographs are taken and reproduced for reference purposes... So, that is what this is! A Wilkinson P.1903 bayonet with a '12/02' date, and so presumably a 'Trial' version... It is pommel-marked to '41.D', and came with a 1905-dated Naval scabbard. Interesting piece! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5thBatt Posted 21 January , 2015 Share Posted 21 January , 2015 Is there any reason not to suspect it's a converted 12 '02 P1888? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trajan Posted 21 January , 2015 Author Share Posted 21 January , 2015 That did cross my mind but the rather sketchy crown doesn't match any of the ER (VII) marked P.1888's that I have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Upton Posted 21 January , 2015 Share Posted 21 January , 2015 That is a very strange crown - almost a cross between the styling of the QVC version it replaced and the later standard version: Typical 1888 bayonet crown: http://angloboerwarmuseum.com/images/boer/mem_misc/bayo_date.jpg Typical 1903 bayonet crown: http://angloboerwarmuseum.com/images/boer/mem_misc/bayo_03_date.jpg If the date is right, maybe a late production 1888 blade "blank" ultimately made into the new pattern? Or just a new 1903 blade made in preparation for the change? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sawdoc34 Posted 21 January , 2015 Share Posted 21 January , 2015 will be back home in a couple of hours & will check my P03s but from what I can see it looks to have an indian inspectors mark & nearly sure 1 of my indian examples made from an 1888 blade also has a similar crown & lack of VR or ER Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sawdoc34 Posted 21 January , 2015 Share Posted 21 January , 2015 Julian, just checked both my Iindian P03s & 2 brit examples, crown looks very similar to the indian example made with recycled 99 dated P88 blade with remaining crown & certainly looks like an IG inspectors mark. Will try & get some clear pics tomorrow in the natural light, Aleck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shippingsteel Posted 21 January , 2015 Share Posted 21 January , 2015 It was originally a P1888 blade made by Wilkinson in 1902, then later converted into P1903 form in India (note the 'Ishapore crown' stamped on the ricasso). It also shows the later period IG/22 inspection mark which is Indian as well. Looks like a British P1903 scabbard made in 1905, with the N for Naval service. Cheers, S>S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4thGordons Posted 21 January , 2015 Share Posted 21 January , 2015 It was originally a P1888 blade made by Wilkinson in 1902, then later converted into P1903 form in India (note the 'Ishapore crown' stamped on the ricasso). It also shows the later period IG/22 inspection mark which is Indian as well. Looks like a British P1903 scabbard made in 1905, with the N for Naval service. Cheers, S>S This would be my interpretation also. In fact I believe I have one very similar somewhere. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shippingsteel Posted 21 January , 2015 Share Posted 21 January , 2015 HaHaHa. I just read the description offered in that Link shown in the OP. Where does all this information come from.? And to reinforce the point about the bayonet being Indian, here is a LINK to the regimental marking stamped on the pommel. Cheers, S>S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sawdoc34 Posted 21 January , 2015 Share Posted 21 January , 2015 Ditto on the Indian converted P88 blade, that is why I am going to send pics in the morning to show the crown & Indian inspectors marks on my Indian P03s Aleck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shippingsteel Posted 22 January , 2015 Share Posted 22 January , 2015 I will save you the effort Aleck. I have a stack of these photos that I keep handy on file. Cheers, S>S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancashire Fusilier Posted 22 January , 2015 Share Posted 22 January , 2015 Caveat Emptor ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trajan Posted 22 January , 2015 Author Share Posted 22 January , 2015 just checked both my Iindian P03s & 2 brit examples, crown looks very similar to the indian example made with recycled 99 dated P88 blade with remaining crown & certainly looks like an IG inspectors mark. It was originally a P1888 blade made by Wilkinson in 1902, then later converted into P1903 form in India (note the 'Ishapore crown' stamped on the ricasso). It also shows the later period IG/22 inspection mark which is Indian as well. Well done lads! I start by quoting these two posts as they were the first I came across today but have also noted your other comments and those of Andrew, LF and 4thG. I don't have and have never seen in the flesh one of these Indian examples, but I did think that crown was a bit strange, so good to know what it is. Also useful knowledge imparted from you all re: the inspector's markings - I have always thought that there is a gap in the literature on these... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancashire Fusilier Posted 22 January , 2015 Share Posted 22 January , 2015 Well done lads! I start by quoting these two posts as they were the first I came across today but have also noted your other comments and those of Andrew, LF and 4thG. I don't have and have never seen in the flesh one of these Indian examples, but I did think that crown was a bit strange, so good to know what it is. Also useful knowledge imparted from you all re: the inspector's markings - I have always thought that there is a gap in the literature on these... Trajan, Thank you for bringing this ' British Trials bayonet ' price tag almost 500 pounds, to everyone's attention, Regards, LF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trajan Posted 22 January , 2015 Author Share Posted 22 January , 2015 LF, Always happy to provide when things like this come up - and it has produced some useful discussion! I for one now have a vivid imprint in the grey matter of what an Indian crown looks like, and also Indian inspector markings... I guess it wasn't bought by a GWF member as otherwise it would have been posted by now... If it went to some private chappie, well, caveat emptor applies - roughly translated as 'If it looks to good to be true then it is too good to be true!' If it went to a dealer then expect to see it marketed at around the GBP 750+ mark. Trajan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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