©Debra.Elvery-Knight2024

FREE-POST with SIGNATURE & INSURANCE AUSTRALIA-WIDE: 30-Day RETURNS, MONEY BACK GUARANTEE: 1-DAY DISPATCH SERVICE

# The law prohibits the sale to anyone under the age of 18. The Buyer accepts full responsibility for its use. The sale of controlled items to minors is prohibited in Queensland. Penalties apply. Acceptable evidence of age may be required.

For your consideration, you are viewing a Vintage WW2 Circa piece of Indian military history. This is a rare full-length Indian Isapore Pattern 1907 Bayonet complete with Scabbard and 1937 Webbing Frog, this bayonet is designed to be used on the .303 calibre Short, Magazine Lee-Enfield No. I Mk. III (SMLE) rifle.  The No. I Mk. III rifle was predominately used by India during both Wars, the Indian government continued manufacturing No. I Mk. III rifles chambered for the 7.62 mm. NATO cartridge into the 1970s. This is the same bayonet and production year that is featured in Ian Skennertons British and Commonwealth Bayonets (John Watts 149 page 346) and is both the 1984 Edition and the New 2024 Edition. (Currently in Production) Ian has personally examined this bayonet concluding that the Indian production was less than the British and other Commonwealth production numbers, also considering that most of the 1907 and RFI bayonet blades were shortened to 12 inches during WW2... examples such as this which still retain their original blade length are quite rare. The Ishapore Pattern 1907 bayonet, was made from 1914 and is identical to the British model. These were produced at the Rifle Factory in Ishapore India. and have been marked R.F.I. This example was newly made in April 1941 at the Ishapore Rifle Factory and has escaped the mandatory conversion. In 1927 The Ishapore factory was expanded with the erection of a new building and the existing machinery was re-organised, however, because the Ishapore Factory abandoned production in 1929, India entered WW2 with the S.M.L.E rifle and Pattern 1907 Bayonet. Bayonet Production during WWII was also carried out by feeder factories such as North West Railways (NWR) at Moghulpura. as well as the Metal Industries Lahore in Punjab (MIL) and Jhelum Arsenal, which is now Pakistan but was once part of India (JU) Britain, Australia and India adopted a modification for the sharpening of some of the No. 1 bayonets with a false edge and changing the point profile from a prow point to a spear point. India used the British bayonet designation, Pattern 1907 or P07, from 1911 until 1926 when it shortened and re-designated it as the No. I Mk. I. India preferred the shorter British P1903 bayonet to the longer P07 or the very short No 4 Spike, so they delayed production of the Pattern 1907 bayonets until 1913 when the Crown forced its adoption for standardization purposes. In 1941, India began cutting down Pattern 1907 bayonets from 16.75 inches (425 mm) to 12.2 inches (310 mm) and grinding a point into the remaining blade, creating

• India Pattern No. 1 Mk. I*, the India Pattern No. 1 Mk. I** is almost identical except a false blade 2 in (51 mm) long is ground into the top of the blade, both were recognizable as fuller than now ran the length of the blade.
• India Pattern No. 1 Mk. II and the India Pattern No. 1 Mk. II* were newly manufactured versions with 12.2-inch blades that had no fuller, the latter having a false blade on the top side, both retained the Pattern 1907 hilt and grip.
• India Pattern No. 1 Mk. III and the India Pattern No. 1 Mk. III* were similar to the No. 1 Mk. II and No. 1 Mk. II* except they had crude square pommels and rectangular grips and were finished with black paint.

This bayonet is made from a one-piece steel blade and tang, it has a beaked pommel with rounded end housing and a deep and broad T-shaped attachment slot. A small circular cleaning hole runs transversely through the pommel at the end of the attachment slot. A round press stud, on the left side, operates a locking catch via an internal coiled spring, it has 2 piece-contoured wooden grips usually walnut, secured to the tang by 2 screw bolts with slotted nuts. The crossguard and pommel are made from wrought iron or mild steel, the lower guard is tapered, and straight with a round end. The upper guard forms into a full muzzle ring. The 42.5 cm blade is single-edged with fullers on both sides and finishes with a prow point. # The makers and inspection marks are:

• RICASSO: (LEFT): Crown over "G.R.I." (George Rex Imperator) over "1907" (Model Number) over "4 41" (April 1941) over "R.F.I." (Rifle Factory Ishapore.)(RIGHT) "FI over 10?" over "IS over ? 3 "- "X" Bending Mark. - "F? over 134"
• POMMEL: "683"

CONDITION

This Indian Full-Length bayonet is from circa 1941 and is in good condition for its age and use in warfare. The grips are in very good condition with no missing pieces but show some age with indents or marks and fit tightly to the tang, the release/lock button is in working order. The 42.5 cm blade has a polished finish with multiple scattered small spot stains and an aged grey patina. The edge is not sharp and has significant dings. The remaining metal on the cross-guards, pommel and mortise has a worn blued finish with some scuff wear, indents and an aged patina. The scabbard is in very good condition the leather is supple, the stitching tight and unbroken, it has a small piece missing from the raised sewn section next to the drag, the staples are firmly fixed and fit tightly together with the bayonet. The original 1937 pattern webbing frog is marked 1940? and has no damage, but is showing lots of ingrained grime and dirt.  # Please note that the photographs form part of the description; Super-sized photos are available for viewing in the eBay gallery, to show the finer details and conditions.

• Photos do not show the actual size so please read the description page for the exact measurements.
• Colours may display differently depending on your computer and settings.
• The item in the photos is the one that you will receive.
• The lead photo has had the background removed with Photoshop, but all the original untouched photos are included in the listing for viewing.
• Any errors will be accidental and not intentional or purposely misleading.