A gift I recently recieved

[Fred G.]

Here's a rifle that was given to me not long ago. The bayonet has the scabbard as well as the frog. The bore of this rifle is MINT. Just thought you'd like to see it.

Information

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[Strangely Brown]

A few more details would be useful Fred; date, markings etc, also does the 88Patt bayonet have any unit markings?

[Fred G.]

A few more details would be useful Fred; date, markings etc, also does the 88Patt bayonet have any unit markings?

Mick, I'm not sure what markings would be a unit marking. I'm not even familiar with what unit they might designate. I'll have to get my magnifying glass AND my reading glasses to look. Is there a reference on line that could give me information about unit markings? Fred

[Fred G.]

The bayonet was made by Wilkinson in May of 1896, the same year the rifle was assembled. There are additional dates of issue stamped in the blade. 98, 00, 02, 05, 09, . The rifle has on the left wrist, VSM (conversion at Vickers)
1908 (or1909)
CLLE
I*
It has the date of 1910 clearly stamped on the buttstock over the Enfield Armory stamp with (1) stamped over that, then the Mark (I*) then the class (1) I'll add a photo of the markings here...
I've another that is arriving tomorrow or Saturday that is only 257 serial numbers off from this one, However the date of asemble is 1899. It, unlike this rifle, has no provisions for a cleaning rod.

[Amatikulu]

Looks like it's a CLLE 1* Are there any unit markings on the tang of the butt plate?

[John Sukey (Deceased)]

You must have been a VERY GOOD BOY to get that as a gift

[Strangely Brown]

Fred the pommel is usually the place to find unit markings, sometimes just initials, e.g. "A.&.S.H" (Argyll & Sutherland Highlander), or "SX" (Sussex Regiment) it could be that there are no unit marking at all.

[Fred G.]

Mick, as you can see, there is only a K that was made by a soldier who used a single pointed object to repeatedly punch a series of marks to make his initial. The other side has the rifle number?

[Strangely Brown]

The other side has the rifle number?

More likely the armoury rack number Fred.
Heaven help the armourer's assistant who put it back in the wrong place!

[Fred G.]

Mick, was the rack number stamped on the long tang of the buttplate?
Fred