Description
Physical description
Pommel form: vestigially beaked with near rounded end and prominently stepped back. The stepped section forms the opening of the broad T-shaped attachment slot. A small steel press stud, on right side, operates locking catch via long steel leaf spring recessed within left side of pommel and grip. Back flat and straight, underside rounded. Pommel meets grips vertically.
Grips form: two-piece black chequered leather. Left grip retained by three small steel rivets and leaf spring securing screw, right grip held by four rivets. Convex grips with flat and straight back, underside rounded and very slightly shaped to hand.
Crossguard form: lower guard extends into full narrow knuckle-bow guard which is slotted for a sword or bayonet knot near pommel. Maximum width of guard 22.8 mm. Upper guard formed into high full muzzle ring.
Blade form: larger version of blade for WEA 432. Straight, sawbacked, tapering slightly towards broad spear point. Blade is double-edged for approximately 180 mm from point. Sawback comprises twenty sets of large and well formed double teeth, forty single. Blade fullered beneath the sawback section and a medial rib extends to tip for the length of false and double edge.
History note
References: R J Wilkinson Latham, 1967, British Military Bayonets from 1700 to 1956, Hutchinson, London, pp 29-30; J Watts & P White, 1975, The Bayonet Book, Watts and White, pp.315 and 380 (ref 785); Tables of Swords and Lances used in the British services War Office, 4/1910, no 4 plate II (fig 1);
Inscription
56. R.A. 7 (stamped in two lines on pommel, right side)
Inscription
22 / Z / crowned BR over 80 / W / P / crowned E over 59 (inspection and repair marks stamped on tang, back)
Inscription
large crown over V.R. / 95 / crowned BR over 66 / .87 / 86 / R over 76 / crowned 23 over E / '98 / (multiplicity of overstamped re-issue, repair and inspection marks on blade, left ricasso)
Inscription
W / R / crowned E over 47 (stamped oin blade back)
Inscription
broad arrow over WD / crowned E / two broad arrows point to point stamped twice (government property mark, inspection mark, obsolete stores, sold but condemned - stamped on blade, right ricasso)