What's this Enfield bayonet please?

[Buntline]

My head hurts.

[browningautorifle]

My head hurts.

Have a Whiskey, that helps sometimes...

[Buntline]

I think that was the problem.

[CINDERS]

Its Friday Yay!

[Buntline]

I have just been going over this thread again to try and reassure myself I'd got it right. I'm sure that this is a late 1888 made into a fighting knife. But this review has raised a new question. Fighting knives - would this be an official thing or would some erstwhile squaddie be having a quite word with the armourer?

[Peter Laidler]

I always think of these so called 'fighting knives' converted from other things as things made by the back-at-camp commandos who want something to take home to impress their mums or little brothers. Just my view of course as one who was always taught that a bayonet was the very last means of mechanical defiance. Take it off the rifle and, well.............. Surely better to make/take a xxxxing big pick axe handle

[gsimmons]

In the US at least was actually quite an industry cutting down swords and bayonets to make them into knives of different types not just fighting knives. Yes, a lot of them would have been made in the division shops by individuals in their spare time. My dad made a letter opener from a .30 cal. Cartridge and salt and pepper shakers from .50 cals. I never saw those, but my brother has the letter opener.

[gew8805]

I've avoided saying it but to me, it is a post-service modification, just as likely done by someone in the safety of their basement workshop at home. But, it does look interesting.......

The value is low, for what ever reason it was converted by whomever it was done.

Unless of course if there is written documentation and photographic evidence from the fellow who did the work with him in uniform showing him "at the Front" with the modified knife in hand, then it could increase the value a little.

[Peter Laidler]

You just said what I diplomatically didn't say gew!

[Roy]

Years ago I bought a US M1905 bayonet from a guy, he had two, one he had molested when he was a (boy) Scout so he would have the most wicked knife to take to Scout camp. There are uncountable possibilities on how this came into its current appearance