Ever since Terry Lee showed his example(s) of the South African manufactured Bayonet No. 1 Mark Is I have been on a hunt. I finally found an example from SAR, South African Railroad and lucked out for it being museum grade. (The other South African manufactured bayonet by Associated Engineers Company (AECO))
Overall construction is functional but not finally finished like UK, Aussie or Indian examples. Only marked on the blade its blade is the most interesting as it appears to have been made demascus style using scrap metal. The blade pattern is unique but with the mix of metals, some of the metal is softer resulting in edge loss.
The scabbard, I assume is also made or contracted by SAR as it is marked on the leather only "AR" and "SR" on one side "W" for waxed and "49U" with a broad arrow on the other side of the seam. The frog made by LL FRAM & CO LTD is stamped with a bright red South African property mark.
The quantity manufactured is unknown but assumed to be from a few hundred to less than one thousand.
Information
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The archival information on the number of South African locally manufactured Pat 1907 & Pat 1913 bayonets actually produced is somewhat contradictory but it is recorded that 14.000 and 11,000 were respectively ordered. It would appear that production of the 1907s was halted when a batch of these bayonets was received from Australia. The minutes of the Small Arms Committee dated 02.07.1943 indicate that a total of 500 1907s were manufactured. However, minutes dated 15.09.1944 (Attached) give the final figures for the 1907s and 1913s as being 375 of each.
The other side of the South African Pat. 1907 coin: The Associated Engineers version. (The SAR bayonets are slightly better finished) Although I have only personally handled three of these, I note that they all came in British scabbards and will not fit correctly in scabbards marked to the South African Railways.
The minutes only state that 375 of each received, not total in stock. The true totals will probably be different, depending on what the minutes may contain further?
As previously mentioned, the archival information is somewhat contradictory and probably incomplete. However, it should be noted that the date of the document already posted is not earlier than 15.09.1944. Other paragraphs therein also suggest final figures.
I attach another dated 07.09.1943 which indicates that production of the Pat.1907 had ceased. (Para.4). Under the circumstances it would be rather strange if a fresh batch was received a year later.
Hmmm. It seems we will never really know the true figures, but at least there are indications of what were actually made and delivered. On a balance of probabilities I would go for the lesser figures. Why make when the finished product could be obtained, probably cheaper than local production in any
case.
, Aussie or Indian examples. Only marked on the blade its blade is the most interesting as it appears to have been made demascus style using scrap metal. The blade pattern is unique but with the mix of metals, some of the metal is softer resulting in edge loss.
PM
