To stamp or not to stamp

[Flying10uk]

I have stocked up with a few spare 1907 scabbards over the last few months and I notice these have been marked with what I assume to be serial numbers on the top of the locket at one time in the distant past. Why anyone thought it necessary to serial number these items I have no idea because they are all interchangeable and now as they are just spare scabbards they are just meaningless numbers.

[Seaforth72]

Soldiers who lose their bayonets are prone to swipe someone else's bayonet. Numbering the bayonets helped identify whose bayonet it really was. The bayonets that came with the No.4 MK.2 rifles post-WWII were serial numbered to the rifle.

If you think that this is anal, think of the WWI Germans who even numbered the sling swivel and muzzle cap on the Gewehr 98.

[jonh172]

Thank you for the comprehensive explanations Seaforth72!

A discreet, semi permanent marking sounds best.

[Peter Laidler]

Colin, thread 22. We NEVER serially numbered bayonets, ever! Someone might have, but not us. All serial numbering does is make it a matched part and so far as I recall, all bayonets were fully interchangeable. If not, they were fixed so that they were - or scrapped.

If someone lost a bayonet or a magazine or a cleaning kit out on exercise etc, he sneaked into the Arms storeman and explained his plight whereon a deal might be done to the benefit of all concerned....... But if he reported the loss to the DS, such as BAR or Muffer or Gil then they all went back out to look for whatever was lost. It concentrated the mind a tad regarding looking after your kit

But in answer to whether to number the mount or not, if it wasn't numbered, we didn't bother to number it UNLESS for very specific reasons

[Flying10uk]

There's no telling who may have stamped the serial numbers on the scabbards after they left British service. It could be any country that used the 1907 bayonet.

[browningautorifle]

But if he reported the loss to the DS

This being a bit aside but...that's a weapon part now and as such is subject to a summary investigation. Also an MP Report. All this means a charge so yes, we form up and search like we've lost a button and need to find it..."No stone" so to speak...

he sneaked into the Arms storeman and explained his plight

Yes, baksheesh and dope deals. Beers for bayonets. Every storsie had a few spare, and mags, compasses... Let's not get into the scale of issue and accounting shall we? "A" class, "B" class..."C" class...

[Bindi2]

I have stocked up with a few spare 1907 scabbards over the last few months and I notice these have been marked with what I assume to be serial numbers on the top of the locket at one time in the distant past. Why anyone thought it necessary to serial number these items I have no idea because they are all interchangeable and now as they are just spare scabbards they are just meaningless numbers.

Are these Aussie scabbards.

[Flying10uk]

No, U.K. made scabbards. I do have several WW2 era Australian 1907 scabbards and I haven't noticed a serial number on the Australian ones, although I haven't thought to look on these particular ones particularly closely.

[Bindi2]

Aussie bayonets were issued and numbered to the rifle to some time after WW1, 8 to a crate/ box. There will be a MD number on the scabbard lockert: 5MD 1234 which will also be stamped on the knox

[jonh172]

This is the bracket in question I want to stamp. It has been heavily modified and bears a serial from it's original setup.
I doubt any future buyer will be fooled into thinking its in anyway original to the rifle.
When I get a good reproduction from Roger, then I can see the issue with stamping it.
But this one is.... what it is.