INDIA

 
Total length = mm                  Blade length = mm              Blade width =  mm              MRD =  mm                           
1853 copy

CADET SOCKET
 
Total length = mm                  Blade length =  Blade width =  MRD = 
Cadet socket with shortened blade

STATE YATAGHAN 1856
 
Total length = mm                  Blade length = mm              Blade width =  mm              MRD =  mm                           

State Yataghan, based on the UK 1856

 

has wooden checkered grips rather than the compressed leather grips of the UK models

 

 

 

 

 

 

Completely devoid of markings

 

 

Crude brazing on tang to pommel joint. Identification is tentative based on quality of the manufacture and the general style of the piece, dimensions are similar to but not identical to the UK Yataghan


State 1853 Bess with added locking ring
 
Total length = mm                  Blade length =  Blade width =  MRD = 
Socket bayonet

 

State 1853 Bess with added locking ring
 
Total length = mm                  Blade length =  Blade width =  MRD = 
Indian state copy of the Bess post 1853with added locking ring. the heart represents thru figure 5.


UK 1903
 
Total length = mm                  Blade length = mm              Blade width =  mm              MRD =  mm                           

UK 1903 in a rare Indian pattern scabbard

 

Scabbard has loops top and bottom to take straps for helve carrier

 

 

Is the 15 the manufacture date?

 

Pommel unit marks indicate bayonet was issued to  Ghurkha Rifle regiment

 

Indian 1888/1903 scabbard with side stitching and added strap hole for helve carrier.

 

1903 with helve strap locations
 
Total length = mm                  Blade length =  Blade width =  MRD = 
Indian 1888/1903 scabbard with side stitching and added strap hole for helve carrier.

 

UK 1903
 
Total length = mm                  Blade length = mm              Blade width =  mm              MRD =  mm                           

1903 Enfield made 1903


MkIV/V
 
Total length = mm                  Blade length = mm              Blade width =  mm              MRD =  mm                           

Could this be a Mk IV or V, the hilt is a MkIII, the blade a MkII* but the blade is shorter with a false edge

 

Frog is doubled over, to produce a shorter mount

 

 

False edge on shortened blade


1907 RFI made
 
Total length = mm                  Blade length = mm              Blade width =  mm              MRD =  mm                           

India 1907 made by RFI in 1919

 

crossed out ALL marking on pommel

 

 

Indian inspection marks

 

RFI makers mark


UK 1907 RIAF marked
 
Total length = mm                  Blade length = mm              Blade width =  mm              MRD =  mm                           

RIAF marked 1907, Royal Indian Air Force only existed for a couple of years pre independence and post WWII

 

 

Grip markings on RIAF marked 1907 with sold from service mark on pommel, blade came in WWII made UK scabbard.


P13
 
Total length = mm                  Blade length = mm              Blade width =  mm              MRD =  mm                           

 

P13 bayonet

 

Bayonet has had a false edge ground onto the blade point. Ricasso has the * mark added as per the 1907's


UK1907 Indian scabbard
 
Total length = mm                  Blade length = mm              Blade width =  mm              MRD =  mm                           

Wilkinson made 1907 in Indian brass mounted scabbard

 

 

Locket and Chape were both Brass made rather than the steel of the normal 1907 scabbard


UK 1907 converted to MkI** 1956 refurb
 
Total length = mm                  Blade length = mm              Blade width =  mm              MRD =  mm                           

1956 marked rework of a Wilkinson 1907, converted into a MkI**

 

FR 56 mark shows last work to have been carried out in 1956

 

 

Original makers marks are still visible on ricasso


MkI*
 
Total length = mm                  Blade length = mm              Blade width =  mm              MRD =  mm                           

No1 MkI* with added false edge

 

 

Ricasso marks

 

Added false edge, showing the way the fullers extend through the point of the blade, due to the blade being shortened from 17" to 12.2"


MkI* shortened
 
Total length = mm                  Blade length = mm              Blade width =  mm              MRD =  mm                           
indian DP GR1.jpg (87901 bytes)

Shortened GRI* marked for Drill purposes,

 

Ricasso stamps


MkIII
 
Total length = mm                  Blade length = mm              Blade width =  mm              MRD =  mm                           
India MkII.jpg (48822 bytes)

MkIII


MkII MIL made
 
Total length = mm                  Blade length = mm              Blade width =  mm              MRD =  mm                           

Previously unrecorded in the books a MIL made MKII without a false edge.


MkII NWR made
 
Total length = mm                  Blade length = mm              Blade width =  mm              MRD =  mm                           
india no1 MkII NWR 43 stamp.jpg (101797 bytes)

NWR made No1 MkII

 

 

No1 MkII made by North West Railways 


MkII* MIL made
 
Total length = mm                  Blade length = mm              Blade width =  mm              MRD =  mm                           

No1 MkII* made by MIL

 

No1 MkII* by MIL


MkIII RFI made
 
Total length = mm                  Blade length = mm              Blade width =  mm              MRD =  mm                           

MkIII without a false edge based on an RFI made MkII blade. Distinctive MkIII pommel is used as decider on bayonet designation


ASHOKA marked
 
Total length = mm                  Blade length = mm              Blade width =  mm              MRD =  mm                           
Ashoka lion marked 1907, in the early 1960's the India police converted SMLE rifles to take the 7.62 cartridge and issued them with refurbished bayonets. The bayonets had the UK crown removed from them and the 4 headed Ashoka lion stamped in its place. All blades seem to be marked 1963


MkI
 
Total length = mm                  Blade length = mm              Blade width =  mm              MRD =  mm                           
a second RFI marked example 


SLR Long
 
Total length = mm                  Blade length = mm              Blade width =  mm              MRD =  mm                           

SLR bayonet with long bowie blade

 

RFI made in 1985

 

Has wooden wrap around grips rather than the plastic ones used by the UK

 

 

Comparison of blade lengths between normal (upper) and long bowie blade. Comparison is with UK No8 but blade is common to SLR, No9 and N07 bayonets
Scabbard for the long SLR bayonet, shown with standard length scabbard for comparison


UK No4 Baird made
 
Total length = mm                  Blade length = mm              Blade width =  mm              MRD =  mm                           

No4 made by the Northern Irish Baird company, the crown over IG is for Indian Government acceptance

 

Baird marking

 

Cancelled serial or is it an Indian serial

thanks to Michael Curran for pointing out the IG mark


INSAS AKM
 
Total length = mm                  Blade length = mm              Blade width =  mm              MRD =  mm                           

indian AK47 INSAS.jpg (97256 bytes)

INSAS AKM, of note is the very poor finish of this blade compared to western standards (and even the normal Eastern block finish)


RFI No5
 
Total length = mm                  Blade length = mm              Blade width =  mm              MRD =  mm                           
Copy of Indian made No5, note the lack of cleaning hole in pommel and overall finish