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    TheDanger

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    1. Funnily enough one just come up on Ebay here in Aus! http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/200904080482?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_1145wt_1397 Will preserve the excellent description here: Ian D. Skennerton in his reference ‘Australian Service Bayonets’ states that the “the year 1879 saw the introduction of the Martini-Henry Artillery Carbine and sword bayonet into British service, and consequently numbers were purchased by the various Governments for service in Australia”. Skennerton goes on to mention how the bayonet was ‘favoured’ by Colonial Police with many remaining in service after Federation in 1901. Designed for use by artillery troops, with a very usable 9 inch sawback, the Pattern 1879 Martini-Henry Artillery Carbine Sawback Bayonet was an ‘attractive’ item and New South Wales charged troopers who lost their bayonets £1/9/2d to replace it, a considerable sum at the time. This bayonet is marked with a Queensland ownership mark, one of the states listed in Ian Skennerton’s ‘Australian Military Rifle & Bayonets’ that purchased these weapons. This ‘museum quality’ bayonet has a 25.75 inch (654mm) long sawbacked blade, with s double row of 41 teeth for 235mm on the back edge of the blade. The blade is fullered on both sides, whilst the grips are black chequered leather, secured to the tang by four rivets. As the Pattern 1879 Martini-Henry Artillery Carbine has a sword bar on the upper band, the bayonet was mounted horizontally and consequently, unlike almost all other British manufactured sword bayonets of the period, the press stud is on the right hand pommel. The return spring is inlet into the left hand side and secured by a screw. The original scabbard is leather and steel with a teardrop fixing stud. The leather is excellent and the stitching is sound along its entire length. Both bayonet and Scabbard have an outstanding patina consistent with age and use. With regard to Australian service, the Pattern 1879 was widely employed in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, and Tasmania. This bayonet is stamped on the hilt spine with a Queensland ownership mark Q B. 9. The weapons remained in service up to and beyond Federation in 1901 and many appear to have been re-issued for Police use after being declared obsolete by the military. Ian D. Skennerton & Robert Richardson in their seminal reference ‘British & Commonwealth Bayonets’ refer to the fact that these bayonets remained in use during both the Boer and First World War’s. A picture of an Australian Artillery Gun Team of the period is attached to this listing. With regard to British Army use, these bayonets were employed by Artillery and Engineer troops within the regular British Army and Colonial forces and like this example are marked with War Department ownership marks. Unmarked examples, usually procured under commercial contract, were most often employed by volunteer and militia units. This type of bayonet was used by the British Army in all of it's major campaigns of the period until finally being declared obsolete in the early 1900’s although, as already mentioned, many continued in use with Colonial troops and police forces until much later. These Pattern 1879 Martini-Henry Artillery Carbine Sawback Bayonet’s are now scarce as only just over 65,000 were ever made. Both Enfield and Wilkinson undertook manufacture of these sword bayonets with the later producing approximately 2000 of the total.
    2. Good pick up! I was posting from work without any photos of my own. That one on Ebay was the only info/pic I could find on the internet after an hour or 2 of looking! I'll grab some pics now of my one. Sorry for the confusion. Mine hasn't been badly sanded like the Ebay one. Interesting mark on the first picture. I haven't seen anything about 2 acceptance marks mirrored like that or their meaning. Not an ideal time for photos light wise here. I'll get some better ones soon. My Great Great Grandfather used to make knifves. One day a man rolled up and asked if he could use this sword to make a knife from. My ancestor replied something along the lines of a no and the man went on his way. Months later it was found stuck in the ground in a stand of long grass along the drive way where the man had stuck it on his walk out. That's its story! The bloke really didn't want it it would seem.
    3. Thanks for the warm welcome everyone and the excellent information! Very interesting stuff.
    4. I had a look through that thread. I should also say that it has the British acceptance mark stamped and directly below 'WD' which could be the War Department acceptance mark? Can also see what I believe is the Enfield Royal Small Arms Factory inspection mark.
    5. Hi I was wondering if anyone could help identify this sword bayonet that has been in the family for awhile. I have only seen one other like it so far and can find no information on it.. It is stamped with Queen Victoria's Cypher which puts it the year between 1837 -1901. The entire length is 79cm. Any takers?
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