An Experiment

[Surpmil]

My No. 1, Mk III rifle tends to shoot high at 100 yards. It is my understanding that the presence of a bayonet affects the height accuracy.

Real 1907 pattern bayonets are rather scarce and expensive, but I noticed that Sarco has 1907 bayonets of modern manufacture, not original, for only $75 USD:

I went ahead and purchased one these and it appears to fit the rifle quite well:

What's your impression of the build quality?

I wonder if original RFI blades or complete bayonets are being used to make these?

[Alan de Enfield]

My No. 1, Mk III rifle tends to shoot high at 100 yards. It is my understanding that the presence of a bayonet affects the height accuracy.

Unless you are using MKVI or MKVII ammunition the following will be of no use to you.

Fitting a bayonet onto a SMLE and using MKVII ammunition results in an increase in height of the POI

Source :
“Musketry Regulations Part 1”
1909 (With Amendments 1914)
Issued by the General Staff – War Office.

Summary :
With a SMLE & with MkVI ammunition there is no effect to the POI when the bayonet is fixed.
With a SMLE & with MkVII ammunition there is a 4 feet Rise in POI at 600 yds when the bayonet is fixed.
With a Lee Metford, or CLLE there is a 6 feet drop, and 2 feet to the right change in the POI at 600 yds when using MkVI ammunition with the bayonet fixed.
With a Lee Metford, or CLLE there is a negligible effect in the POI when using MkVII ammunition with the bayonet fixed.

YES – that is correct – with the CLLE / Lee Metford the POI is NOT AFFECTED when using MkVII with the bayonet fixed, but with the SMLE the POI is NOT AFFECTED when using MkVI with the bayonet fixed..

[Neuraleanus]

What's your impression of the build quality?

I wonder if original RFI blades or complete bayonets are being used to make these?

The build quality seems satisfactory with the correct dimensions. The primary difference between the Sarco blade and an original is that the entire blade is blackened while the originals had a bright finish.