Great War British Bayonet Contract Record Pattern 1907 & 1913

[navydoc16]

Wanting to start more of a legacy thread here on the contract dates of various British Pattern Bayonets for the Great War period.

The purpose of this is in my opinion is not to challenge the various publications of others, but simply put dates to some of the more “general” comments surrounding production “by late or early such year”. As well as contextualise discrepancies in the official statements, some of which have “hard” numbers and dates that do not align with physical examples. 
 

Potentially we can find some of the anomalous dates and makers, it will make collecting the “first” and “last” of production more interesting. 
 

I will update the record as we go to attempt to record the far left and far right of the production dates for both the Government facilities as well as the Commercial Contractors. If others note an anomaly of a later or earlier dated piece, they can be added to the thread and added to the table.

questions I would like to solve:

- did Vickers roll production directly from 1913 to the 1907 

- when did the last EFD bayonets leave Enfield

- how long did production take to get started during the Great War

- did all contractors continue production until wars end

- how long post war did each contractor continue 

- what is the earliest 1907 date on an actual piece 

- What is the latest 1907 date on an actual piece

kind regards

g

Table updated: 16 Aug 24

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited 18 hours ago by navydoc16

[navydoc16]

Vickers Pattern 1913 - (2-17)

most credit Vickers 1913 production as starting at “mid” 1917,

the 3-17 below is from my personal collection, but I have since found one photo of a 2-17

 

Edited 15 August by navydoc16

[navydoc16]

Vickers Pattern 1907 - (12-18)

From my collection, quite late and technically a post war date

 

[navydoc16]

Remington Pattern 1907 - (01-16)

Later than most references credit 1907 production at Remington 

[navydoc16]

Remington Pattern 1907 - (04-15)

believe this is @t.ryan Piece

Edited 14 August by navydoc16

[navydoc16]

Remington Pattern 1913 - (12-15)

From my collection. this overlaps with production of the 1907 and is the lowest I have found so far, it is indicated that there was 1913 production in 11-15 but no examples have been found so far

[navydoc16]

Mole Pattern 1907 - (07-18)

this is the latest I have found so far, I am not sure if they finished production of their contract before the end of the war. 
 

Edited 14 August by navydoc16

[navydoc16]

Mole Pattern 1907 - (04-15)

I would like to know when they started, their contracts, dates have been quoted as “mid” 1915, April is as low so far as I have found so far. 

Edited 14 August by navydoc16

[navydoc16]

Chapman Pattern 1907 - (10-14)

very close to the beginning of the war

 

Edited 14 August by navydoc16

[navydoc16]

Chapman Pattern 1907 - (11-18)

the latest I have found, I would like to find a 12-18 or later to indicate they completed their contract post war 

[t.ryan]

navydoc,

 This looks like a worth while little exercise which we can keep an eye out for while searching .

I have a nice clear 7/18 Mole, and the 4/15 Rem. you mentioned above.

What do you make of these 07 Mole bayonets dated 12/09, 1/10 for starters. There was a 10/09 mentioned but no photo to support.

Cheers,

TR

[navydoc16]

@t.ryan great pic for the ‘17, 

I see no issue with the 09 or the 10 piece. 09 being earlier. I will update the table.
 

it also shows that MOLE was using a 1 that looks a lot like an “i” which I had not see before- or noticed before 
 

kind regards

g 

[5thBatt]

My earliest P1907

5 '08 EFD

[t.ryan]

5thBatt,

Nice looking early dated EFD hookey.

navydoc,

A bit of an update on the Mole bayonet, 6/09 I believe, showing both sides.  I also came across this one while browsing, Mole and 1907 only, may be commercial ???.

Cheers,

TR 

[navydoc16]

@t.ryan I’ve documented that one before (and the new owner has too) it has an odd crossguard marking. and a very odd inspectors mark as well.

I don’t believe it is a “commercial piece” with all the markings, but I have never been able to place the OC Crown @shippingsteel? Believe there was a matching KM crossguard marked piece found which was a Lithgow
 

kind regards

g

Edited 15 August by navydoc16

[t.ryan]

navydoc,

Goodo, you beat me to it, I had been back looking for bayonet again and was just about to upload that same photo. Looks like the year '17 but on wrong side.

Funny how it is sometimes hard to re find something.

Cheers,

TR

[navydoc16]

Sanderson Pattern 1907 - (01-19)

from my personal collection

I have also found a photo of what appears to be a 02-19 however it is not clear if this is a reissue and polishing. So I will leave it as 01-19 for the moment

Edited 15 August by navydoc16

[t.ryan]

My own pair, 07 Wilkinson 8/18 and 07 Lithgow 4/20, these are for the top side of your existing list at the moment. 

That Sanderson 2/19 looks ok, looks like it has been chrome plated and one side has been cleaned off more than the other in preparation.

Cheers,

TR

[t.ryan]

For the 07 RFI dates blades, I already had these saved. A good clear 7/13 and a 9/20 or 21. May be another one to hold back on.

Cheers,

TR

[navydoc16]

@t.ryan I’m going to avoid going past 1919 for the purpose of the forum at the moment, I have Lithgows in my collection up until 1928, they are documented till 1929 off the top of my head 

that 1917/1913 bayonet by RFI has been heavily contested as well 

kind regards

g

Edited 15 August by navydoc16

[t.ryan]

Cheers, was wondering about the Lithgows because of their long run. I just added that 20/21 RFI bayonet photo but I think it would be a very late date for the 07 RFI Bayonets.

Cheers,

TR

[navydoc16]

39 minutes ago, t.ryan said:

 

 

Sorry I left that Wilkinson slot blank, I already have a 11-18 penned in there 

kind regards

g

[t.ryan]

navydoc,

This 07 RFI 6/13 dated bayonet takes the place of the 7/13 date I added earlier today. 

Cheers

TR

[navydoc16]

@t.ryan Thanks mate she is a great find, I have updated the chart

kind regards

g

[navydoc16]

EFF Pattern 1907 - (09-14)