This is a rare British Pattern 1888 Mk III Lee Metford Rifle Bayonet made by Sanderson of Sheffield in 1902. Only 65,000 Mk III pattern 1888 bayonets were produced. The only real differences between the Mk II and Mk III are that the Mk III grips are held in place with screws instead of rivets and the pommel, tang and crosspiece of the Mk III are browned instead of polished.
Production of the 1888 Mk I bayonet totalled 25,000; Mk I type II was 575,000 and Mk II production totalled 236,610.
The Mk III P1888 is a rarely encountered bayonet these days.
This desirable bayonet is in very good condition despite its 120 years of age and is highly collectable. The 306mm double-edged blade is nicely marked on the ricasso with a Tudor crown above ER, the cypher of Edward VII and the production date, 2 ‘02 (February, 1902). The makers’ details, Sanderson, Sheffield are stamped at the base of the ricasso.
The obverse ricasso is marked with the War Department arrow, Sanderson factory inspection mark and a bend test stamp.
The ricasso spine bears two Sanderson inspection stamps. The blade was factory/armoury sharpened and is in very good condition with minimal age and use related marks.
The wooden grips are in good condition and are held in place with two oil blackened screws (like the 1903 pattern bayonet). The steel crosspiece and pommel are in good condition and retain much of their original browned finish. The pommel is stamped with the designation D 12 over 2 DMR over the issue/weapon number 37. This is the designation of the District 12 Dismounted Mounted Rifles of South Africa. The obverse of the pommel bears a partially struck Union of South Africa government ownership mark.
The bayonet is complete with its black leather scabbard with steel mounts. The scabbard is in good condition with minimal pale tarnish and a small patch of shallow pitting on the back of the locket and at the foot of the chape. The stitching is intact and firm. The bayonet sheathes and draws smoothly and is held firmly within the scabbard.
This is a very good example of a rare British Mk III pattern 1888 bayonet.
