One of the first Ishapore WW2 P1907 bayonets

Initial P1907 bayonet production at Ishapore at the beginning of WW2 is a bit of a mystery. In “British & Commonwealth Bayonets” by Skennerton & Richardson production of the P1907 bayonet from September 1939 through Mark 1940 is listed at 220 bayonets, but to date no 1939 examples have been seen. With my quest for a 1939 dated RFI bayonet coming up empty so far I have just located a bayonet that might shed some light on their existence.

Recently this double date Ishapore bayonet came to the surface. It appears to be an unfinished October 1921 bayonet that has been re-stamped with a January 1940 date when its manufacture was complete. This bayonet has both 1921 and 1940 date stamps and inspector stamps. No exact date of end of production of the P1907 bayonet at Ishapore has been recorded after WWI but from observation mid to late 1921 appears to have been the end.

The unknown question was it a new manufacture or a rebuild in 1/40. Ishapore would have put a FR or a P for a rebuild so I am leaning towards a new manufacture of leftover parts. In addition, Ishapore never canceled previous dates on their WW2 rebuilds and re-dated rebuilt examples on the “back” of the blade. With the date of 1/40 it suggests that this is when production began at Ishapore during WW2; it does not eliminate the possibility of a 1939 dated example but it is a strong indicator that bayonet production did resume at RFI in January 1940.

The bayonet itself is in excellent condition and appears to have been issued to a “Royal Rifles” or “? Regt.” unit.