Ross Bayonet acquistion and question

[Flying10uk]

I've just looked on Old Smithy's bayonet website which seems to confirm your bayonet as an uncut Mk1 example as I've already stated.

[Flying10uk]

A "2" in Roman numerals would be marked thus "II" and not like what is seen on your pommel (11) which, in my opinion, reads eleven.

[browningautorifle]

in my opinion, reads eleven.

Perhaps you should read this then.

http://arms2armor.com/Bayonets/ross1910.htm

Here's another site for consumption.

Ross Bayonet markings - Arms - Great War Forum

Just to add that as far as I can work out, the first Ross bayonet was introduced in 1908 and so was Pattern 1908, and so marked '08'.
EG, as in having the stepped, small hole muzzle ring. The second pattern was (as far as I can determine) introduced in November 1911, and so became the Pattern 1911, and was marked '11'. From December 1911, the two versions were referred to as the Mark I and Mark II types...

[green]

The 11 is pattern date 1911 for the Ross MkII bt which was for the Ross MkII** and III rifles which were used in Canada and by the British home guard during WWII. The scabbard is a MkII which differs from the MkI by having a wider belt loop. The scbd was made by Hugh Carson Co.

[Flying10uk]

green, are you able to explain more about the uncut and cut Ross bayonets, please, and what MKs are assigned to them if any? So the "11" on the pommel is an eleven, as I previously mentioned, indicating Pattern 1911 but is it a MK1 because it's uncut? Or were the bayonets themselves not given MKs but just cut or uncut?

[Rucker]

It is my belief that all Ross bayonets started in the uncut form. And from the links browningautorifle provided, mkI is the 08 marked bayonets and mkII are the 11 marked.

I appreciate all the replies/comments gents. I do believe more so now, that my bayonet is a mkII.

[green]

The MkI Ross bt had a smaller muzzle ring diameter to fit the Ross MkI and II rifles except the MkII**. The MkII bt had a larger muzzle ring to fit the heavier barrel on the MkII** and III rifles. The so called sharpening, actually reprofiling of the point , was done only on the MkII bts and did not result in a mark change.

[tiriaq]

As far as blade profiles are concerned for bayonets for Mk. III rifles, there is the original, the Canadian altered as shown above, and the RN altered blade, which was more of a conventional Bowie knife profile. The frog was also altered for use with RN gear, and leather was stained black.

[old-smithy]

the Mk I has as said a smaller muzzle ring, but it also has a spring clip in this ring to prevent rattling when mounted, these are not common and one with a spring in place is even more so. The MkII has a larger ring without the spring. The reshaped blade was ordered due to the poor penetration of the original tip profile. The MkIII which I have never seen had a stepped back muzzle ring.

[green]

I am unaware of any Ross bayonet designated MkIII. There is a Ross bt illustrated in the "Ross Rifle Story" with a step back ring but it is a US conversion of A MKI to fit a MkII rifle which had the barrel set back to correct head space.
re: blade profiles
1) MkIoriginal blunt point not reprofiled
2) MkII original blunt point June 1912
3) MkII new production with sharper point Oct 1915
4) alteration of 2 above to sharper point approved 1915

A Canadian alteration of the scabbard was done by removing the integral frog and inserting the the scbd into a P1908 frog to fit the P1908 web issued to the CEF.