RFI EY Rifle Bayonet

Hello members,

Last yr i purchased a RFI EY Rifle at an auction. It was just the rifle, but i already had a RFI cup, so the pair go together nicely.

I was wondering if there are any specific/correct bayonets for these rifles?

Regards,

PJ

#1mk3 rifle I'm guessing? It would be the 1907 blade or the shorter ones...marked RFI...the shorter 1907's are around, I had one.

Sorry i forgot to add that. It is a No1 mk3* , 1963.

The 1907 blade, and I'd think any short or long, shortened or originally short blade with RFI would be good.

Cheers Jim, ill have to keep an eye out.

would you happen to know the value? like same, more or less valuable compared to a standard 1907?

They should be on the lower end value, that is to say there are many collectible 1907 blades and this shouldn't be one. That in mind, there's not nearly as many around as there were so good luck finding one anyway. The condition may not be great either, just take it and don't worry about a lower price.

Im not fussed about condition. I have semi correct bayonets for my other lee enfields, it would just be nice to have a semi correct bayonet for this EY rifle aswell.

As Jim points out any 1907 bayonet would suffice, The RFI marked ones (short) are normally very good condition. the Mk111 was more agricultural, the Mk1 and 11 still had the shape of the 1907 apart from the the blade, there are RFI marked 1907's (I've never had one) and there are the conversions of the 1907 (cut down etc)

I do have one of the Indian Scabbards with the brass Locket and Chape, only ever seen a few of these.

The one I prized most was a cut down UK made 1907 that had been cut upwards at the front of the fuller. Sort of like the 1905 SA blades. It had the corresponding short leather scabbard too...it was about perfect... I've not seen one quite like it before. Most seem shorter than mine was. I think it was cut for the IS rifles.

Ey rifle........, bayonet........... Surely, unless I am missing something it wouldn't come with a bayonet. It was already a downgraded rifle suitable for grenade firing/EY/emergency use only. They didn't even have to conform to an accuracy diagram test. I would say that it wouldn't have been allocated a bayonet - it would have been allocated a cup discharger. That's my take on how the stores system worked!

That was originally my assumption Peter but i wasn't sure. I thought they may still have been given a bayonet anyway.

Either way, i will still look for an RFI Bayonet.

Here's one of my Indian No1 mk2 bayonets made by R.F.I.. There were another 3 or 4 factories making these in India/(Pakistan) during WW2.


I've noticed that some of the Indian No1 mk3 bayonets with the "square" pommel have blades that are still marked as "MKII" while other examples are marked "MKIII".