Khaki Posted 12 November , 2015 Share Posted 12 November , 2015 My Ross bayonet has the following stampings on the left flat of the pommel 11 over 6/15 with broad arrow in a C (Canadian) also the left grip is stamped with 98 over 74, right grip is also numbered but harder to read, any suggestions ? khaki Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Khaki Posted 12 November , 2015 Author Share Posted 12 November , 2015 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msdt Posted 12 November , 2015 Share Posted 12 November , 2015 Hi khaki, Left pommel marking are 11 for the Pattern 1911, Ross Bayonet Mk.II, and dated June 1915. 98 over 74 is the interesting bit. If 74 is the rack number, what is 98? Cheers, Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EastSurrey Posted 12 November , 2015 Share Posted 12 November , 2015 My own example has the same style of markings on the metal work as khaki's, but a date of 2/14. The markings on the wooden grips are pretty faint, but are of a different type, with letters: possibly CDI across the grip , then above them 8 and then MP?P with C? underneath. There is possibly another set of letters or numbers at the butt end of the grips- but even more badly worn and difficult to interpret. Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Khaki Posted 13 November , 2015 Author Share Posted 13 November , 2015 I didn't look hard enough, the pommel end also has stampings, 10/152 over 2.17 khaki Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trajan Posted 13 November , 2015 Share Posted 13 November , 2015 ... the left grip is stamped with 98 over 74 ... ... 98 over 74 is the interesting bit. If 74 is the rack number, what is 98? If I recall correctly, Canadian battalions were numbered - I did some work on this once and it is somewhere on GWF but I can't find it now... Anyway, in my very limited experience of these Ross bayonets and of unit markings in general, Canadian unit marks were akin to these, battalion number over a 'rack' number... So, I thought I'd make a guess that this is a 98th Battalion bayonet, and lo and behold found a Wikipedia entry for the 98th Battalion (Lincoln & Welland), CEF... According to Wiki, "The 98th Battalion was authorized on 22 December 1915 and embarked for Britain on 16 July 1916, where the battalion provided reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field until 6 October 1916, when its personnel were absorbed by the 12th Reserve Battalion, CEF. The battalion disbanded on 17 July 1917." Well, all that bit about the dates fits - but is what you have really a unit marking? Trajan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trajan Posted 13 November , 2015 Share Posted 13 November , 2015 I didn't look hard enough, the pommel end also has stampings, 10/152 over 2.17 Maybe another unit marking but this time with an issue date? So, maybe issued February 1917 to the 10th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, which, according to Wiki, "was a Canadian field force unit created during the First World War. Technically distinct from the Militia from which its soldiers were drawn the unit served in the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), specifically in the 1st Canadian Division from 1914 to 1919." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Khaki Posted 13 November , 2015 Author Share Posted 13 November , 2015 Thanks everyone, interesting thoughts about battalion numbers and dates Julian, if you are correct and I have no reason to doubt it, it suggests to me that the Ross bayonet & rifle were still being issued far later than I thought(1917?). My belief was that they were discontinued in the field not soon after the CEF realized that there were problems with them. Maybe the numbers represent rifles used for training purposes in Canada. khaki Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trajan Posted 13 November , 2015 Share Posted 13 November , 2015 If I recall correctly, Canadian battalions were numbered - I did some work on this once and it is somewhere on GWF but I can't find it now... ... interesting thoughts about battalion numbers and dates Julian, if you are correct and I have no reason to doubt it, it suggests to me that the Ross bayonet & rifle were still being issued far later than I thought(1917?). My belief was that they were discontinued in the field not soon after the CEF realized that there were problems with them. Maybe the numbers represent rifles used for training purposes in Canada. ... Hi Khaki, Found the thread I was looking for - see: http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=230501&hl But these are all crossguard and pommel markings... Even so, coincidences, coincidences, meaning the overlap in the dates of issue of your bayonet with the formation of the 98th Battalion (Lincoln & Welland), CEF, and the date (if that is what it is) on the pommel coinciding with the formation of the 10th Battalion, CEF, all seem pretty convincing... But yes, perhaps for training purposes rather than field issue? Julian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msdt Posted 19 November , 2015 Share Posted 19 November , 2015 Have just photographed my 2 Ross's following the information supplied in this post. This is the first one, an early one of the first type. What is the unit marking? If 94 is the battalion number, what are the letters before it? According to Wikipedia the 94th battalion was authorized on 22 December 1915, yet the date above this marking is 4 . 13. Cheers, Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msdt Posted 19 November , 2015 Share Posted 19 November , 2015 The second one. No unit marks on this late one. But what are these marks on the top of the tang? Cheers, Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trajan Posted 20 November , 2015 Share Posted 20 November , 2015 This is the first one, an early one of the first type. What is the unit marking? If 94 is the battalion number, what are the letters before it? According to Wikipedia the 94th battalion was authorized on 22 December 1915, yet the date above this marking is 4 . 13. That looks to be a matching set with the scabbard - a very nice find! I honestly have no idea as to the 'H', but the numbers above this on the pommel looked to me to be 4 17. Maybe if that is a 4.13 it is an earlier issue? There is a Canadian collector who may know - I'll pass on his address when I find it. The second one. No unit marks on this late one. But what are these marks on the top of the tang? Good question! I have no literature at all on Ross bayonets (not my field as they are as rare as hen's teeth here!) except what there is in Skennerton and Richardson, which is not much - but they do refer to a Handbook of Identification Marks on Canadian Arms by Manarey, and there are some copies on Abe books (no, I am not their agent!) which might be worth investing in. Julian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trajan Posted 9 December , 2015 Share Posted 9 December , 2015 There are some interesting posts currently on GBF on those RN Ross bayonets that went to Chile in 1921, along with a superb photograph of RN chappies armed with Ross rifles and fixed bayonets. Have a look at: http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?418092-Chilean-Ross-M21-Bayonet Trajan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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