1918 P1907 bayonet

[BEAR]

I was in one of my favorite antiques stores in the Big City (Tacoma) and was shocked to learn that the owners (I've known for years) have sold out to a younger couple. After 2 hrs of perusing I found only one item of militaria (highly unusual).
It turned out to be a 1918 P1907 Wilkinson bayonet. It has light storage rust on the scabbard, but the leather is firm albeit worn. The blade is bright although it also has light storage rust on it (did the British ever darken the blade as they did on American M1905s.?) The blade also shows signs of sharpening.
The inspection dates are 1918, 1924, 1928, 1932, 1936.
This should clean up nicely.

BEAR

Information

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[browningautorifle]

(did the British ever darken the blade as they did on American M1905s.?

That's a good question. There was a bit of everything and it changed over time. Here's a thread about it that pretty much sums it up. https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/...onet-finishes/

Yes, that one will clean up nicely.

[Flying10uk]

It looks like December 1918 as there is a "12" to the left and above the upside down "28". WW1 wasn't necessarily expected to end in 1918 and so there were still equipment contracts still in place after hostilities ceased.

[BEAR]

It looks like December 1918 as there is a "12" to the left and above the upside down "28.

Thanks, did not notice the 12.

BEAR

[CINDERS]

12 is the month date of manufacture originally so its a 12 month year 1918 bayonet refurb dates never had the month just the year also under the Wilkinson one should be able to read Pall Mall Ill dig my Wilkinson out its always faint but its there on mine.

[BEAR]

This is another example of buying the bayonet before the rifle......And my son owes me a SMLE.

BEAR Merry (Happy) Christmas

[browningautorifle]

another example of buying the bayonet before the rifle

I think it's worse when the bayonet comes by accident at no cost...then the rifle is pricy.

[Flying10uk]

Because Wilkinson had 2 bayonet manufacturing sites in WW1 I thought that Wilkinson marked their bayonets, during WW1, either "Wilkinson" or Wilkinson Pall Mall" depending which site the bayonet was made? To confuse the matter it is now often nearly impossible to read the "Pall Mall" part of the marking, on bayonets with this marking, presumably due to refurbs. In WW2 Wilkinson only had one bayonet manufacturing site.

[CINDERS]

Here is a pic of markings on my '07 Wilkinson - Pall Mall Feb 1917 manufacture with 1920 and 1924 (on reverse) refurb dates its in excellent shape.
I have tried as best I can to keep the bayonets I have around the same condition or better though price and supply are the limiting factors there.

[browningautorifle]

price and supply are the limiting factors there

A far cry from the $4.00CDN or so of my youth...