Rare British P1903 bayonet for the Mk1 III Short Magazine Lee Enfield (SMLE) rifle.
The P1903 design combined the P1888 blade and crosspiece with a new pommel design. Many 1903 pattern bayonets are actually P1888 bayonets that have been converted. This bayonet is a good example of a converted 1888.
The P1903 had a short service life as the blade wasn’t thought to be long enough, having less reach than most European bayonets when combined with the shorter Mk1 rifle. The P1903 was produced for British use from 1903–1907, at which time the P1907 was adopted.
This example is in very good condition. The 302mm double-edged blade is bright and clean with service sharpened edges. The blade has a flattened diamond cross-section with a raised medial ridge and terminates in a spear point. The ricasso is stamped with the Indian government stores arrow, two bend test stamps, an Indian government inspection stamp and a worn British War Department WD and broad arrow along with a Wilkinson inspection stamp. These stamps show that the 1888 bayonet was in service with the British Indian Army and was then converted in India for continued service in the colonial army.
The obverse ricasso bears the crown stamp of Queen Victoria and the pattern date, 1903 which is stamped over the original manufacture date of 2 ’91 (February 1891), indicating that this bayonet was originally an 1888 pattern. The base of the ricasso bears the Wilkinson London maker’s name.
The steel crosspiece and pommel retain their polished finish. The end of the pommel bears an RFI stamp, indicating that the conversion from P1888 to P1903 was carried out at the Rifle Factory Ishapore in India. The bird-beak pommel is stamped with several issue numbers and the unit marking for the 1st Brahmans Regiment.
The press-stud locking mechanism works perfectly. The wooden grip scales are in good condition with age and use related marks.
The black leather scabbard is in good condition. The steel furniture remains bright with speckles of shallow pitting on the frog stud. The leather is stamped with a faint arrow and inspection stamp. The stitching is intact and in good condition.
This is a good example of an increasingly hard to find British P1903 bayonet issued to the 1st Brahmans Regiment of the British Indian army.
