Canadian Mk.I (Pattern 1908) Ross Bayonet: Unit and Miscellaneous Markings?

[ColonelKlink1942]

Hey gang,

I went antiquing on the weekend and procured a lovely Mk.I Ross bayonet, one that wasn't shipped off to the US for training. There are unit (and miscellaneous) markings that have survived and are stamped fairly clearly, and I want to learn more. Unfortunately, I am still lacking the appropriate reference material that would shed some light on what they mean, but on the pommel, there is "5.13" (May 1913) and "11.H over 333" (Eighth Company/Division/Regiment?, 11th something, 333rd rifle?).

On the scabbard throat, there is a "T" (I've never seen this, I wonder what the T signifies) and "4426". I assume that is a serial number for the rifle it was paired with (sadly the scabbard is a Mk.II, so it is mismatched, but I thought the markings were still worth noting). There is also a "23" on the throat. I believe it is a viewer stamp, but I can't seem to find a crown, though it may be hidden under some of the residue and debris.

Any insight and help on this is most appreciated! Photos below:

[JMB1943]

Colonel,

11 H. = 11th Hussars, Richmond, Province of Quebec

https://archive.org/details/pt1-australia-1914aug01-ver2/Pt2Canada1914Aug01ver3/page/6/mode/2up

Regards,

JMB

[ColonelKlink1942]

Fascinating! I'm reading up on them now.

Any idea what the "T" would signify on the scabbard throat?

[JMB1943]

Believe me, had I known the meaning of the “T” it would have been posted!

Part of the problem is that the time/ place of that “T” is unknown; was this one of those scabbards that, presumably, went with the rifles/ Bayonets to the US?

Regards,

JMB

[navydoc16]

I own it’s stable mate - 35th rifle of the 11th Hussars 

the T belongs to a batch of bayonets from the Ross Bayonet Mk3 it is not known- Derek Complin who wrote the Ross Bayonet Book indicated that there was a flood in one of the Canadian government archive records (don’t know which archive) that included Ross contract documents - so the information is likely lost

kind regards

g

[navydoc16]

My bayonet from the block of “T” bayonets 

either 

I:0598 or 10598

kind regards

g

[ColonelKlink1942]

Those are beautiful examples, Doc! Sadly my example has been sharpened by a grinder, but other than that, it retains the butter knife shape, and there isn't a spot of rust on it.

Always neat to find someone who has a bayonet from the same unit.

[navydoc16]

6 hours ago, ColonelKlink1942 said:

Those are beautiful examples, Doc! Sadly my example has been sharpened by a grinder, but other than that, it retains the butter knife shape, and there isn't a spot of rust on it.

Always neat to find someone who has a bayonet from the same unit.

Thanks mate, yours too. 
 

sharpening is not really so much of an issue on these too much, many were sharpened in the period up to and during the Great War. 
 

kind regards

g

[ColonelKlink1942]

1 hour ago, navydoc16 said:

Thanks mate, yours too. 
 

sharpening is not really so much of an issue on these too much, many were sharpened in the period up to and during the Great War. 
 

kind regards

g

I hear you on the sharpening not being an issue. It doesn't bother me, but some collectors can be very picky about that, and will quickly claim that the bayonet has lost much of its value.

[ColonelKlink1942]

I found another marking. This "M 80" is present on one of the grips. I don't know the significance of this, as none of the other Ross bayonets in my collection have this. I've begun asking around, and some folks think it may be a British dispersal code or a marking that would've been stamped onto bayonets issued to the Royal Navy (or in this case, the Royal Canadian Navy).

Any thoughts or insight?

[navydoc16]

6 hours ago, ColonelKlink1942 said:

I found another marking. This "M 80" is present on one of the grips. I don't know the significance of this, as none of the other Ross bayonets in my collection have this. I've begun asking around, and some folks think it may be a British dispersal code or a marking that would've been stamped onto bayonets issued to the Royal Navy (or in this case, the Royal Canadian Navy).

Any thoughts or insight?

Do you have any further markings? Or overall photos? 
 

grip markings are not uncommon, two of mine have them. 
 

Could have been added for a whole multitude of reasons for anything from RN through to Home Guard.
 

kind regards

g