British Bayonet

[aspen80]

Hi guys,

I just acquired a (Quote) P1907MkII*, issued in WW2, eastern theatre, with Indian forces. Also found with a rounded pommel like that on the P1907 bayonet (the MkII no *, both fullered and unfullered). Most were destroyed or stamped "DP" after the war.(Unquote)
Mine is unfullered with the"DP"
What does the DP relate to?

Thanks

Information

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[henry r]

Drill Purpose

[aspen80]

Thanks a lot for the answer. I had no idea.

[Flying10uk]

Most were destroyed or stamped "DP" after the war.(Unquote)

I don't know who told you this but I probably have around 8 or so Indian 1907 mk2s, none of them D.P.s, none of them excessively expensive for me to buy and they don't seem especially rare in the U.K. to acquire, currently.

[Aragorn243]

For some reason, they are no longer "cheap" in the US. They do seem to be rather common and about 50/50 DP marked although some of those are just the white stripes which many might be removing. $75 seems to be the going rate at present.

[aspen80]

Thanks to all for the comments.
I had not seen one before and this one was for sale at a gun show for $20, so I bought it..

[old-smithy]

FP is now thought to relate to Delhi Police, I have pictures of them using the bayonets with the white band on the hilt during training. Delhi Police is a lot more men than would account for the DP marked as drill purpose. Also Drill Purpose bayonets tend to be blunt tipped not sharp, whereas most DP are still pointed

http://www.old-smithy.info/bayonets/...nets.htm#INDIA]

[browningautorifle]

FP is now thought to relate to Delhi Police

I take it you meant DP...and of course you can find pics of people using DP bayonets in training. A point or edge MAY be dulled or blunted...should be by the book but they weren't all done the same. I wouldn't believe for a second that "DP" means Delhi Police...

[Peter Laidler]

I would only ever disagree with Smithy about bayonets with a GREAT deal of trepidation, thought and consideration. But I'm inclined to agree with BAR on this one just based on the fact that while DP on a bayonet or rifle might indicate Delhi Police - in the same way as RR might also indicate Rolls Razor (as in Sterling magazines), in the world of small-arms and life generally, DP is DRILL PURPOSE in my experience. As does RR indicate Rolls Royce. Bayonets (and rifles...) are downgraded to DP for all sorts of reasons. But to me, DP is DP is DP..., Drill Purpose. To use a well accepted, unambiguous and absolutely relevant set of initials to indicate something else in a similar context would be a recipe for, if not disaster, then total confusion. Just my considered opinion.

Think ZF = Zimbabwe Forces or condemned? DP = Dublin Police or Drill Purpose?

[Flying10uk]

But if a bayonet is downgraded to D.P. status would you expect there to be at least some physical changes to the bayonet, such as rounding off the point, or are some bayonets downgraded to D.P. status, marked D.P., and no other actual physical changes made to the bayonet?