1907 with Arabic markings

[Eddie Parks]

Thank you. My Omani soldiers were a match for any soldiers anywhere. Smart, intelligent and above all proud and motivated. I would have been happy to take(edit-lead) them up any hill anywhere.
Eddie

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[msimms]

Sorry for the poor quality pics. The blade it has been in my possession since Feb 04 when I was in Kirkuk, Iraq. My interest is in the story of how it might have made its journey from its site of production to Kirkuk and finally here to the US. The value of the blade is of no consequence to me save for the story behind it. Also, i had the hope to maybe find a proper home for it as it deserves a better ending than simply rusting in the bottom of my footlocker. If it were possible for it to accompany a rifle that served in the same region/era I would be pleased. This is the beginning of my search to discover the travels of this blade and how it ended up with me. Thanks for the advice and I will post in edged weapons as well

[MasterChief]

I've had this for about 20 years. Only paid $25USD. In about fair condition with 1916 Lithgow scabbard.

[green]

The SMLE was the standard rifle of Iraq from 1920s-60.

[CINDERS]

No scabbard with it! as it may have been marked as well

[Peter Laidler]

Mmmmmmmm, punctilious isn't a word I'd generally associate with middle east armies and weapon cleaning or maintenance in my limited experience. Mind you, JonnyC above is the man that would really know..........

[msimms]

Nor my experience either Not much interest in maintenance there. The AK rifle was perfect for that region as even with 5lbs of sand in the action it would still cycle

---------- Post added at 02:21 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:19 PM ----------

I posted this in the Edged Weapons Forum as well. Just wanted to post here so as to update the thread.
Here is what I have discovered thus far. A couple of sources I found are oldmilitarymarkings.com and thearmouryonline.co.uk. It’s a British manufactured bayonet. On the left ricasso from top to bottom is the Crown with the letters G R barely visible beneath. This is the Reign Mark of Georgius Rex(King George V) 1911-1936. Next is quite obvious however, but in the center is 1907 which is the model number. Next is 9 to the left and *24 to the right. This is the date of acceptance into service (Sept 1924). Finally at the bottom is EFD signifying the maker as Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield.
On the right ricasso top to bottom is the “Broad Arrow” which is the government acceptance mark. Next below that (and also to the left) is the Crown with T6 E under it. This is the inspection or view mark of the inspector at various stages during production. What a wonderful find it would be discovering the record to whom T6 E was assigned. Next center is the X or bend mark. Finally on the lower right is EFD with 24 under it and what appears to be an inverted broad arrow above. This mark I have been unable to discover the meaning.
Finally we come to the Arabic numerals on the pommel. These numerals translate to 504 or 405. Some say that Arabic numerals are read right to left, but I am not familiar with this. It may become highly important later in my search as this is the location where the Regimental Markings would be were a bayonet of British manufacture issued to a regiment of the British Army. This is somewhat perplexing as I can observe no other acceptance marks on the blade save the one for Government Service. Some have stated that the 504 may simply be a rack number, however I am investigating if there may have been Arabic Regiments comprised of local nationals in the 1920s British Army.
This blade has made quite a journey thus far from London Borough of Enfield to the Middle East and now to the US.

[jonnyc]

Mmmmmmmm, punctilious isn't a word I'd generally associate with middle east armies and weapon cleaning or maintenance in my limited experience. Mind you, JonnyC above is the man that would really know..........

Thank you???

@msimms: FWIW, both Hebrew and Arabic script is read right to left, but oddly numbers are read left to right. As I said previously, and apparently punctiliously, your pic is upside-down, so it does read 504.

[msimms]

your pic is upside-down, so it does read 504.

I agree. I just took me a while to remember as it's been 13 years since I was there. Possibly my thanks to Peter was ill placed as I had become confused as to who posted what as the thread had grown. However, despite Peter Laidlers former comment "Even without better pictures I'm not inclined to think it's seen Arab service by the generally half decent condition" I know where the bayonet came from. Still I was thankful for his comment "punctilious isn't a word I'd generally associate with middle east armies and weapon cleaning or maintenance in my limited experience" as it aligns with my experience as well.

[Brit plumber]

The Iraqi Contract No1 rifles we confiscated back in 05 all had the usual British numbers (by that I mean as opposed to continental type) and Iraqi jeem marks but no Arabic numbers. These were BSA produced military contract guns from 1934/5 & 6 I think it was. Maybe the Arabic numbers were added much later, like the 50s or 60s.