Pattern 1907 bayonet markings help

[Nabs]

I recently picked up a pattern 1907 bayonet to go with my SMLE. The one I got has certainly been used and abused but extremely sharp and beats all of my kitchen knives.

The 1907 is not my area of expertise I must admit so I am seeking help with identifying the markings on this bayonet to figure out where it has been or what it could have done.

From what research I was able to do online, it looks to be British made at Sanderson in November 1918. There appears to be a Union of South Africa marking and perhaps a unit marking on the blade hilt ? The grips are badly damaged with one screw missing half of it's head. Anyone else seen this before ?

My looking into the Union of South Africa shows that the British did hold onto it after WW1 and this may be where the bayonet went. Aside from service in South Africa, the bayonet may have gone with the troops who went to fight in North Africa during WW2. The blade shows more than one re-sharpening.

Thank you all for your assistance.

 

[TimC]

Its definetly not marked to a British Infantry Bn. Try the Western Front Forum, they may be able to identify the unit!

 

[buffdog]

Markings

The bayonet was made by Sanderson, the 11 should be date of acceptance (1911). The "Sanderson" indicates a period of 1891 to 1918 for Sanderson Brothers, Sheffield, England.

The scabbard (WJH M/121) was made by W.J. Hill Ltd. of Birmingham, England. The M/121 is a WW2 code number for W.J.Hill, a sub-contractor.
Code numbers are N for North, M for Midlands and S for South locations of WW2 manufacturers.

The broad arrow inside the square type U on the handle may well be South African, after 1910. All the S.A. markings I have seen have a rounded bottom on the U.

The 1907 is the Pattern type, the Crown GR is Crown Property, the V2-E are view markings for Enfield, and the broad arrow is military acceptance.

The 34/8 is probably a Unit number and the 1250 is the identification number of this item (and probably the same as the rifle number) within the unit.
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[TimC]

Mine was marked to DLI in 1914 and was a Wilkinson. It was marked on the piece that engaged the bayonet boss. Sadly I sold it with the Rifle.

 

[John Sukey]

Those grips certainly have suffered a LOT. If it's any help www.ima-usa.com has new sets of original grips with the grip screws.

 

[Cottage Hill Bill]

The bayonet was made in november 1918 ( 11 18) just below and either side of the 1907 stamp. The 8 in the 18 is poorly struck. As noted it was made by Sanderson. Marks on the other side of the blade are the bend test mark X and various inspection stamps.

 

[Nabs]

Thank you for the assistance everyone, it is really appreciated in trying to figure out this bayonet's past.

I did some light reading into the Union of South Africa and it's military forces after WW1. It seems this bayonet may have got down as British property in the beginning but possibly changed hands afterwards to the locals ? Maybe it was part of a police unit in one of the cities or perhaps with some rangers out in the wilderness. The unit marking may well tell.

Perhaps it went up with some of the Union of South Africa troops during WW2 to North Africa ? I guess that could be a possibility as well.

I have never seen this level of damage to bayonet wood grips before, not even my used and abused WW1 German bayonets saw this much abuse. Anyone else seen this before ?

Thank you everyone.