Brandon Eldridge

I have had these two for years, one with wooden grips,the other missing the leather grips Interesting markings normally covered by the grips

Thankyou Peter,I will take your advice, my house is like a museum, I have been collecting since I started earning money. I have a very modest bayonet collection, amongst other things. I am like a kid in a candy store here,educating myself in things military. Sitting here on my small Zululand farm and enjoying the break,Happy Easter to you too !

Thankyou Brett and Mickey, very interesting, I am keen to know which companies made these things. When I bought these things I was informed that they were Anglo - Boer war era,which I did not believe, I found out only later what they were,still a "nice to have "

Hello Peter,I think the authorities of the day, in South Africa anyway, were reluctant to issue firearms to the local natives. I believe that these spears were made in England. I know that there should be manufacturer's marks on the socket but in order to see that I have to remove the hide covering the socket. I am tempted but do not know if it will affect value,I'm burning to see the manufacturers marks....advice anyone ? The sockets are merrily corroding away under the hide which concerns me.

Hello Chris,if you look carefully between the stitching of the hide you can see the socket part of the blade. I'm reluctant to remove the hide because that is the way I received them. They do have the finger groove towards the butt end, apparently the police spears had the metal butt cap and the army spears did not. I bought these in Dullstroom about 12 years back.

A pair of Native Military Corps spears as issued to Native guards in South Africa during WW2. The hide covering the socket was apparently done by the troops themselves. Note that the top spear has had the tip broken and reprofiled