Question on DP Marked Bayonets

[Enfield Novice]

I see many bayonets on the various auction sites that have the yellow or white DP Bands on them. While obviously understanding the meaning of DP on a rifle, what would be the point of marking a bayonet? Some I have seen are even stamped DP. Would it be because of the need to have a bunch of bayonets to match the rifles? Or perhaps the steel is fractured? Seems like the marking is mainly on the Indian bayonets. Just had me wondering when I saw one on an auction today…..I did do a search on the subject here but did not get much data.

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[bigduke6]

EN,

I,m a hoarder of 1907 bayonets, and have one or two stamped DP (Drill purpose) the only thing I can see is a rounded point of the blade, and I guess any bayonets at the time missing a point on the blade were destined DP, as regards to to the painted bands I,ve never seen a 1907 with a painted band just the DP stamp.

[Alan de Enfield]

I guess you could apply the same question to all the other 'bits' that are commonly marked DP (particularly on Indian rifles)

Barrel bands, swivels, handguards, forends etc.

I bought a beautiful matching set of No1 furniture to go on a barreled action, when received it had a very small, discrete DP on the forend just in front of the Front Trigger Guard Screw.
No splits, no damage anywhere just slotted on perfectly with no fitting needed - just one of those days.

[Enfield Novice]

Yes I noticed when doing a search on here that the rounded off points were mentioned. The listing I saw today was Indian and still had a sharp point. Bayonets of any type seem to cost more than a rifle it seems except the Enfield "Tent Peg type.

[Brit plumber]

If I remember correctly, Peter said that they used to DP bayonets that failed to meet minimum length requirements through resharpening and other similar actions. I'm sure it's on this forum somewhere.

[Peter Laidler]

We did use shorter bayonets as DP's but they weren't common outside the training regiments. We had twenty DP SA80 bayonets at HQ SASC for use during instruction lessons. The irony was that some of them were VERY early bayonets with the bottle opener ground off and others were 1985 and 86 with serial numbers.

Any DP bayonet that went through workshops was white painted on the grips in some way. and all had the tips ground round. Some of the school Cadet Forces also had DP No4's and No9's plus the odd No1 although I only ever saw a couple

[Brian Dick]

I have windage adjustable rear sights salvaged from cut DP SMLE rifles and almost all are marked with the DP.

[Son]

The instruction for assembling DP rifles (No1 MkIII) for the purpose of an order for such weapons was that wherever possible 2nd grade parts were to be utilised, if none available, then new parts could be used to complete the order. Interestingly the newly assembled DP rifles were to have a finish of the same standard as new rifles.

I wonder if the individual small bits marked DP were parts replaced on serviceable rifles and pulled from the scrap bins or "downgraded parts" bins to be used in DP assembly? This might explain the parts themselves being marked as well as the receiver.

Any thoughts on this? Looking for references...

[Brian Dick]

The DP marked wind adjustable rear sights are in good working order although some have obviously seen harder service than others. I've seen many of them with the leaf pinned in place so at least these remain unaltered.

[Peter Laidler]

I had plenty of experience with this stuff, especially with L54 and L55 Brens. We'd keep a big tray of unserviceable stuff for repairing DP rifles/Brens and parts with, for example, worn out axis pin holes or, say backsights etc etc that would have no effect on a DP rifle/Bren would be stamped DP (for DP use) and slung in the tray. Likewise, pistons, slightly warped woodwork, damaged bayonets with broken off tips (usually SA80's).

That would seem to answer why Brian had DP marked backsights (worn axis pin holes or loose slides) and Sons question. The guns all had to be finished to the spec too. THere was always a bit of discussion regarding 'serviceability. How can a DP Bren be passed as 'serviceable' The REME INspectorate/MAG's used to say that 'serviceable' was when it conformed to the workshop EMER spec relating to it. So serviceable for a DP No4 was when it conformed to the EMER spec for DP No4's