Item Description
Original Items: Only One Set of Two Available. Several years ago IMA acquired a large bayonet collection from a very enthusiastic European collector. Some of these we have decided to sell in small groups, giving starting collectors a great chance to pick up a few bayonets to get started with collecting.
This lovely set of British bayonets began their service lives as P-1856 Yataghan Saber bayonets, originally made to fit the "2-Band" P-1853 Enfield and P-1864 Snider short rifles. While the full length rifle versions of these service weapons used socket bayonets, this was impractical for the short rifles, so they were fitted with bayonet lugs on the right side of the barrels. With the checkered grips, they were also very useful as a sidearm, and the design was used throughout Europe.
As always, it was inevitable that the rifles would become obsolete, but edged weapons of any age are still just as effective, so the bayonets for obsolete rifles would then be modified for further service. In this case, one was modified to work with another weapon, while the other was shortened to work only as an edged weapon.
The first bayonet in this set still retains its full length 22 3/4" curved blade, and is a very nice example of its type. It has had the muzzle ring fitted with an internal bushing to reduce the size, and a sight notch added for better aiming. This made the bayonet able to mount onto the new Martini-Henry Rifle, first introduced in 1871. The reason why even the earliest Martini-Henry rifles had a bayonet lug on the side, even though an "official" bayonet was not purpose made until later, was so that these modified bayonets could be used. It wasn't until 1876 that a socket bayonet was Patterned for the Martini Henry.
The second bayonet does not appear to have had the hilt modified, and still has the original wide curved groove on the spine of the entire hilt. The muzzle ring was not bushed either. Instead, this bayonet was converted into a very sturdy thrusting weapon, possibly for use during the campaigns of the late 1800s, or even for the trenches of WWI. If only the bayonet could talk!
A great set of British Victorian bayonets, modified for further service, as most were. Ready to add to your collection!
Specifications P-1856 for Martini:
Blade Length: 22 3/4"
Blade Style: Single Edge "Yataghan" with Fuller
Overall length: 28"
Crossguard: 4 1/4”
Specifications Carter EB 10 Shortened:
Blade Length: 12 1/8"
Blade Style: Single Edge "Yataghan" with Fuller - Cut Down
Overall length: 17 1/2"
Crossguard: 4 1/4”
- This product is available for international shipping.
- Not eligible for payment with Paypal or Amazon
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