Markings on British and Commonwealth Bayonets

Markings on British and Commonwealth Bayonets

Last updated: 11/15/2003

The history of the British bayonet goes back to the 17th century, and because of this the British
bayonet is one of the more interesting types of militaria to collect. The definitive work on the subject
is undoubtedly British & Commonwealth Bayonets, by Skennerton and Richardson (ISBN 0-949749-
04-4, copyright 1986, published by Ian D. Skennerton, distributed in Australia by Arms & Militaria
Press, PO Box 80, Labrador 4215, Australia, and in North America by Arms & Militaria Press, PO
Box 5659 Grants Pass, OR 97527 USA, and by I.D.S.A. Books, P.O. Box 1457, Piqua, OH 45356
USA), from which most of the information presented here has been gratefully pilfered. Information
about the cyphers has been lifted from British Enfield Rifles, Volume 1, SMLE (No. 1) Rifles Mk I and
Mk III, by Charles R. Stratton (ISBN 1-882391-16-0, published by North Cape Publications, P.O.
Box 1027, Tustin, CA 92781 USA).

The information on British Regimental markings is extracted from British Military Bayonets from
1700 to 1945 , by R.J. Wilkinson Latham, 1967, Hutchinson & Co. (Publishers) LTD., 178-202 Great
Portland Street, London W.1.

Manufacturers and armorers stamped information on each bayonet about when and by whom it was
manufactured, when and where reworked (if ever), and the like. Being able to read and interpret these
markings enables the collector to ascertain some information about the weapon and possibly deduce
some of its history, all of which adds to the collectibility of the piece. The following tables and
diagrams illustrate the more common markings found on British and Commonwealth bayonets,
organized by country.

Items in italics are updates based on personal communications.

Contents

● Terminology - names of bayonet parts

● Cypher - Great Britain
● Cypher - India
● Markings - Great Britain
● Markings - Australia
● Markings - Canada
● Markings - India
● Markings - New Zealand
● Markings - South Africa
● Markings - Miscellaneous

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 Markings on British and Commonwealth Bayonets

● British Regimental Markings

● Examples

Terminology - Names of Bayonet Parts

The names of the various parts of the bayonets and associated scabbards are listed in the following
table and illustrated in the following diagrams.

Glossary - Names of bayonet parts

Number Name Number Name
1 False edge 17 Shoulder
2 True edge 18 Locking ring
3 Fuller or blood groove 19 Elbow
4 Muzzle ring 20 Zig-zag slot
5 Crosspiece or crossguard 21 Chape
6 Bolt 22 Rivet
7 Grip 23 Locket
8 Pommel 24 Pipe back
9 Locking bolt 25 Ricasso
10 Press stud 26 Finial
11 Mortise slot 27 Quillon
12 Drain hole 28 Locking bolt spring
13 Frog stud 29 Knuckle guard
14 Mouthpiece 30 Hilt
15 Tip or point 31 Wire lace
16 Socket

Socket Bayonet

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Markings on British and Commonwealth Bayonets

Knife Bayonet

Sword Bayonet - 1

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Markings on British and Commonwealth Bayonets

Sword Bayonet - 2

Sword Bayonet - 3

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 Markings on British and Commonwealth Bayonets

Back to table of contents

Cypher - Great Britain

On British manufactured weapons the cypher consists of a stylized crown (the style of which changed
over time) above the initials of the reigning monarch. The initials, monarch, and dates of reign are
indicated in the following table.

Initials on British manufactured weapons

Initials Monarch Dates
V.R. Victoria Regina (Queen Victoria) 1837-1901
E.R. Edwardius Rex (King Edward VII) 1901-1910
G.R. Georgius Rex (King George V) 1911-1936
E.R. Edwardius Rex (King Edward VIII) 1936
G.R. Georgius Rex (King George VI) 1937-1952

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Cypher - India

On Indian manufactured weapons produced prior to about 1952, the cypher also consists of a stylized
crown above the initials of the reigning monarch, but the letter "I" (for Imperator) is added to the
initials. In approximately 1952 (a few years after Indian independence) the crown was changed to an

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 Markings on British and Commonwealth Bayonets

Ashoka (four crouched lions) and the initials were changed to R.F.I, for Rifle Factory Ishapore. The
corresponding initials under the cypher are indicated in the following table.

(The cyphers on weapons produced in India are somewhat different. I cannot be certain that the
following information applies to Indian-produced bayonets (since I don't own any), but it does apply
to rifles and so the information is provided here for the sake of completeness.)

Initials on Indian manufactured weapons

Initials Dates
E.R.I., G.R.I 1907-1943
G.R.I. 1944-1951
R.F.I. 1905-1970

Back to table of contents

Markings - Great Britain

The following table lists the main markings found on British-manufactured bayonets. During (and
after?) World War II Great Britain stamped manufacturing codes (much like Germany did) instead of
manufacturer names on weapons parts. The table below does not contain all the codes, but rather just
the ones used on bayonets, as identified in Skennerton's book.

Note: World War II codes consisted of a letter ("N", "M", or "S") followed by a number. "N" stands
for "North", "M" for "Midlands", and "S" for "South".

Markings on British bayonets

Marking Meaning
or Government acceptance mark
Sale or sold out of service mark
'89 Manufacture date (1889)
11 17 Manufacture date (November 1917)
CHAPMAN J. Chapman; maker
Royal Arms Factory, Enfield; maker or repairer (D -
EFD, D, or ENFIELD
post 1925)
JAC J. Chapman; maker
MOLE R. Mole; maker
RE Remington; maker

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Markings on British and Commonwealth Bayonets

SANDERSON Sanderson Bros. & Neubold; maker

S&N Sanderson & Neubold; maker
W Winchester; maker
WILKINSON Wilkinson Sword Company; maker
W.S.C. Wilkinson Sword Company; maker
Hopkinson; maker
Royal Ordnance Factory, Poole
B. & J. S. Ltd B. & J. Sippel Ltd.
Vickers, Crayford; maker
F.F. & S. Ltd F. Fisher & Sons, Ltd.
F 191 France-British Electrical
H.G. Barrow, Hepburn & Gale Ltd.
J.W.(S) Ld J. Wilson Ltd.
S. M. Hopkinson contract (L1A4 bayonet)
S.M.C. or S.M. Singer Manufacturing Co.; maker

Scottish Motor Traction Co.

Cinque Port Artillery

V.N.S. Viners Ltd.

M1 Accles & Pollack
M 44 J.B. Brooks & Co. Ltd.
M 47 A Birmingham Small Arms (B.S.A.), Small Heath; maker
M 53 Camelinat Ltd.
M 58 Jabez, Cliff & Co. Ltd.
M 78 Elkington; maker
M 121 W.J. Hill Ltd.
M 158 J. Lucas Ltd.
M 166 M.C.L. & Repetition Co. Ltd.
M 198 Morris Springs
N 26 F. Fisher & Sons, Ltd.
N 30 Howard & Bullough; maker
N 56 Prince-Smith & Stells; maker

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Markings on British and Commonwealth Bayonets

N 64 Sheffield Steel Products

N 67 Singer Manufacturing Co.; maker
N 69 London Sand Blast & Decorative Glass Works
N 76 Temporal Spring Co. Ltd.
N 79 Viners, Ltd.; maker
N 96 Baird Engineering; maker
N 152 B. & J. Sippel Ltd.
N 165 Restwell Spring Co.
N 187 Radcliffe; maker
S7 Auto Engineering
S9 Barrow, Hepburn & Gale Ltd.
S 41 Grundy, Ltd.; maker
S 67 London Sand Blast
S 68 Lines Bros. Ltd.
S 128 Wembley Tool Co.
S 158 Bramlands Engineering
S 169 Chiswell Wire Co.
S 191 France-British Electrical
S 195 H.E. Gibbs
S 200 Gramophone Co.
S 201 Grant & West Ltd.
S 229 McLoughlin Machinery Ltd.
S 268 Shalston Engineering
S 286 Vanden Plas (Eng) 1923 Ltd.
S 294 Wilkinson Sword Company; maker
S 356 N.J. Edmunds Ltd.
S 361 S.E. Norris & Co.
S 376 Lewisham Engineering; maker
S 377 Joe Thompson
E-M Enfield-Martini
R.A.M.C. Medical Corps
U.M.P. Ulster Mounted Police
ONTEX Retailer's name (commercial bayonet)
Board of Ordnance acceptance mark

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 Markings on British and Commonwealth Bayonets

War Department acceptance mark (discontinued in

1895, although it's been reported on examples dated
1897 as well)
Enfield Royal Small Arms Factory (R.S.A.F.)
inspection mark

Birmingham R.S.A.F. inspection mark

B.S.A. inspection mark

Wilkinson inspection mark

Birmingham R.S.A.F. repair mark

Solingen mark, British inspector

Liege (Belgium) mark, British inspector

French mark, British inspector

Cancellation mark
* Corrosion or rust mark
N Naval service
L Land (Army) service
D.P. Drill purpose
Downgraded, usually to drill purpose
Bending mark, proof of blade

Back to table of contents

Markings - Australia

Markings on Australian bayonets

Marking Meaning

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Markings on British and Commonwealth Bayonets

Department of Defense

Department of Defense
A.M.C. Army Medical Corps (New South Wales)
LITHGOW Manufactured at Lithgow
LYSAGHT Manufacturer
MA Manufactured at Lithgow
MANGROVITE MANGROVITE Belting Pty. Ltd.
N.S.W. New South Wales
N.S.W.G. New South Wales Government
OA Manufactured at Orange
P.P.M.S.G. Victorian marking (Port Phillip)
Q.N.C. Queensland Naval Cadets
S.A. South Australia
SLAZ Slazenger (wood only)
V.A. Volunteer Artillery (New South Wales)
V.V. Victorian Volunteers
W Waxed finish, scabbard
W.T. William Tranter
Colt (US manufacture) (but possibly not; additional
research underway)
Queensland Government
Queensland Police
1 M.D. 1st Military District (Queensland)
2 M.D. 2nd Military District (N.S.W.)
3 M.D. 3rd Military District (Victoria)
4 M.D. 4th Military District (South Australia)
5 M.D. 5th Military District (Western Australia)
6 M.D. 6th Military District (Tasmania)
Australian Forces, or Royal Australian Air Force (not certain)

Early Lithgow inspection mark

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 Markings on British and Commonwealth Bayonets

Lithgow inspection mark

Orange inspection mark

Government acceptance mark

Lithgow manufacture mark

Early Lithgow proof mark

Early Lithgow manufacture mark, with pattern

acknowledgement (1907)

Australian manufacture mark with pattern acknowledgement,

as seen on Pattern 1907 and Owen bayonets
Scabbard marking
Bend test mark, proof
9/47/R Refurbished, with month & year
10 '44 Month and year of manufacture
Sale mark

Back to table of contents

Markings - Canada

Markings on Canadian bayonets

Marking Meaning

Canadian Government ownership mark

Canadian Government ownership mark (post-WWII)

B C B G A British Columbia Brigade fo Garrison Artillery

BCPR British Columbia Provisional Regiment of Garrison Artillery
CRI Canadian Regiment of Infantry
DC Dominion of Canada

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Markings on British and Commonwealth Bayonets

Hochelaga Highland Light Infantry (reserve unit from Galt,

HLI
Ontario)
LC Lower Canada
LCM Lower Canada Militia
MD Militia & Defense
M&D Militia & Defense
NELLA Nella Cutlery, maker of C7 bayonet
OR Oxford Rifles
PEI Prince Edward Island Regiment
P E I G A Prince Edward Island Garrison Artillery
PWR Prince of Wales Regiment
QCBI Queens County Battalion of Infantry
RCAF Royal Canadian Air Force
RCN Royal Canadian Navy
RCR Royal Canadian Rifle Regiment
RRCI Royal Canadian Regiment of Infantry
s for Spencer rifle (found on elbow)
UC Upper Canada
UCM Upper Canada Militia
VMI Volunteer Militia Infantry
VMR Volunteer Militia Rifles
VR Victoria Rifles

Ross Factory inspection mark

Quebec Arsenal inspection mark

Long Branch

Canadian Arsenals Ltd.

Canadian Arsenals Ltd.

10/15 Acceptance date (into service)

Cancellation mark
Stevens-Savage (United States)

Stevens-Savage (United States)

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 Markings on British and Commonwealth Bayonets

Victory Plastics (U.S.-made Scabbards)

Back to table of contents

Markings - India

Markings on Indian bayonets

Marking Meaning

East India Co. ownership marking, Quartered Heart

(script) Various Indian script letters for issue marks and numbers
R.F.I. Rifle Factory Ishapore
F R 55 Factory Repair, 1955
J.U. (unknown) Jhelum Arsenal
M.I.L. Metal Industries, Lahore
N.W.R. North West Railways
S&R Swinburn & Son (?)
Bend test mark, proof
1 41 Date of manufacture, January 1941

Indian Government ownership marking, later version of E.I.G. mark

East India Government ownership mark, pre-Great War

Inspection mark, for East India Co.

Inspection mark, for East India Co.

Ishapore inspection mark

Indian inspection mark

12 / 14 Conversion date, December 1914

Back to table of contents

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 Markings on British and Commonwealth Bayonets

Markings - New Zealand

Markings on New Zealand bayonets

Marking Meaning
Ownership marking
Ownership marking

Back to table of contents

Markings - South Africa

Markings on South African bayonets

Marking Meaning
S.A. South Africa
S.A.P. South African Police
MAKERS S.A.R. & H South African Railways and Harbors Dept.
A E Co Manufacturer's initials
Cape Government, South Africa

Union of South Africa

South Africa Defense Corps (current)

Back to table of contents

Markings - Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous Markings on British and Commonwealth bayonets

Marking Meaning
G.S. George Salter; maker
P.O.F. Pakistan Ordnance Factory

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 Markings on British and Commonwealth Bayonets

Back to table of contents

British Regimental Markings

Some British bayonets have regimental markings stamped on the pommel (and possibly elsewhere).
These identify the regiment of the British Army to which the bayonet was issued; when a bayonet
was re-issued to a different regiment, the original regimental markings were normally lined out like
this, and the new regimental markings were stamped near the original ones.

To properly decode the regimental markings one needs to know what the abbreviations and letters
stand for. The following list summarizes the regimental abbreviations as of 1881. Pre-1881 numbers
are difficult to establish as to the date of change. Some regiments have the same number pre- and
post-1881 but the majority have changed, i.e., pre-1881 20th Foot were East Devons; post-1881 20th
Foot are Lancashire Fusiliers.

Regiments of the British Army issued with bayonets

Pre-1881
Regiment Post-1881 Abbreviation
Mark
(none) The Royal Garrison Artillery R.G.A.
The Corps of Royal Engineers
S. & M. R.E.
(Sappers & Miners)
The Grenadier Guards (The First
1st Foot Gds. G.G.
Regiment of Guards)
The Coldstream Guards (The
2nd Foot Gds. C.G.
Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards)
The Scot Guards (The Scots Fusilier
3rd Foot Gds. S.G.
Guards)
(none) The Irish Guards I.G.
(none) The Welch Guards W.G.
1st Foot The Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment) R.S.
The Queen's (Royal West Surrey
2nd Foot W.SR.
Regiment)
3rd Foot The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) E.K.
The King's Own (Royal Lancaster
4th Foot LAN.
Regiment)
5th Foot The Northumberland Fusiliers N.F.
6th Foot The Royal Warwickshire Regiment WK.

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Markings on British and Commonwealth Bayonets

The Royal Fusiliers (The City of

7th Foot R.F.
London Regiment)
8th Foot The King's (Liverpool Regiment) LI.
9th Foot The Norfolk Regiment NK.
10th Foot The Lincolnshire Regiment LIN.
11th Foot The Devonshire Regiment DVN.
12th Foot The Suffolk Regiment SK.
Prince Albert's (Somerset Light
13th Foot ST.
Infantry)
The Prince of Wales's Own (West
14th Foot W.Y.
Yorkshire Regiment)
15th Foot The East Yorkshire Regiment E.Y.
16th Foot The Bedfordshire Regiment BD.
17th Foot The Leicestershire Regiment LEIC.
18th Foot The Royal Irish Regiment R.I.
Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own
19th Foot YK.
(Yorkshire Regiment)
20th Foot The Lancashire Fusiliers L.F.
21st Foot The Royal Scots Fusiliers S.F.
22nd Foot The Cheshire Regiment CH.
23rd Foot The Royal Welsh Fusiliers W.F.
24th Foot The South Wales Borderers S.W.B.
25th Foot The King's Own Scottish Borderers K.O.S.B.
26th Foot The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) S.R.
27th Foot The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers IN.F.
28th Foot The Gloucestershire Regiment G.R.
29th Foot The Worcestershire Regiment W.R.
30th Foot The East Lancashire Regiment E.L.
31st Foot The East Surrey Regiment E.SR.
The Duke of Cornwall's Light
32nd Foot CLL.
Infantry
The Duke of Wellington's (West
33rd Foot W.RID.
Riding Regiment)
34th Foot The Border Regiment B.R.
35th Foot The Royal Sussex Regiment SX.

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Markings on British and Commonwealth Bayonets

The Worcestershire Regiment (2nd

36th Foot W.R.
Battalion)
37th Foot The Hampshire Regiment HTS.
38th Foot The South Staffordshire Regiment S.STF.
39th Foot The Dorsetshire Regiment DT.
The Prince of Wales's Volunteers
40th Foot S.L.
(South Lancashire Regiment)
41st Foot The Welch Regiment WEL.
The Black Watch (Royal
42nd Foot R.H.
Highlanders)
The Oxfordshire and
43rd Foot OX.
Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
44th Foot The Essex Regiment EX.
The Sherwood Foresters
45th Foot (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire DY.
Regiment)
The Duke of Cornwall's Light
46th Foot CLL.
Infantry (2nd Battalion)
The Loyal North Lancashire
47th Foot N.L.
Regiment
48th Foot The Northamptonshire Regiment NN.
Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal
49th Foot BRK.
Berkshire Regiment)
The Queen's Own (Royal West Kent
50th Foot W.KT.
Regiment)
The King's Own (Yorkshire Light
51st Foot Y.L.I.
Infantry)
The Oxfordshire and
52nd Foot Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (2nd OX.
Battalion)
53rd Foot The King's Shropshire Light Infantry SH.
The Dorsetshire Regiment (2nd
54th Foot DT.
Battalion)
55th Foot The Border Regiment (2nd Battalion) BR.
56th Foot The Essex Regiment (2nd Battalion) EX.
The Duke of Cambridge's Own
57th Foot MX.
(Middlesex Regiment)

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Markings on British and Commonwealth Bayonets

The Northamptonshire Regiment

58th Foot NN.
(2nd Battalion)
The East Lancashire Regiment (2nd
59th Foot E.L.
Battalion)
60th Foot The King's Royal Rifle Corps K.R.R.
The Gloucestershire Regiment (2nd
61st Foot G.R.
Battalion)
The Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire
62nd Foot WTS.
Regiment)
63rd Foot The Manchester Regiment MAN.
The Prince of Wales's (North
64th Foot N.STF.
Staffordshire Regiment)
65th Foot The York and Lancaster Regiment Y.&L.
The Royal Berkshire Regiment (2nd
66th Foot BRK.
Battalion)
The Hampshire Regiment (2nd
67th Foot HTS.
Battalion)
68th Foot The Durham Light Infantry DM.
69th Foot The Welch Regiment (2nd Battalion) WEL.
The East Surrey Regiment (2nd
70th Foot E.SR.
Battalion)
71st Foot The Highland Light Infantry H.L.I.
The Seaforth Highlanders (Ross-shire
72nd Foot SEA.
Buffs, The Duke of Albany)
The Black Watch (The Royal
73rd Foot R.H.
Highlanders, 2nd Battalion)
The Highland Light Infantry (2nd
74th Foot H.L.I.
Battalion)
75th Foot The Gordon Highlanders GOR.
The Duke of Wellington's (West
76th Foot W.RID.
Riding Regiment) (2nd Battalion)
The Middlesex Regiment (2nd
77th Foot MX.
Battalion)
The Seaforth Highlanders (2nd
78th Foot SEA.
Battalion)
The Queen's Own Cameron
79th Foot CAM.
Highlanders

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Markings on British and Commonwealth Bayonets

The South Staffordshire Regiment

80th Foot S.STF.
(2nd Battalion)
The Loyal North Lancashire
81st Foot N.L.
Regiment (2nd Battalion)
The Prince of Wales's Volunteers
82nd Foot (South Lancashire Regiment) (2nd S.L.
Battalion)
The Royal Irish Rifles (1st Battalion
83rd Foot R.I.R.
Royal Ulster Rifles)
The York and Lancaster Regiment
84th Foot Y.&L.
(2nd Battalion)
The King's Shropshire Light Infantry
85th Foot S.H.
(2nd Battalion)
The Royal Irish Rifles (2nd Battalion
86th Foot R.I.R.
Royal Ulster Rifles)
Princess Victoria's (Royal Irish
87th Foot R.I.F.
Fusiliers)
88th Foot The Connaught Rangers CT.
Princess Victoria's (Royal Irish
89th Foot R.I.F.
Fusiliers) (2nd Battalion)
The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
90th Foot S.R.
(2nd Battalion)
Princess Louise's (Argyll and
91st Foot A.&S.H.
Sutherland Highlanders)
The Gordon Highlanders (2nd
92nd Foot GOR.
Battalion)
Princess Louise's (Argyll and
93rd Foot Sutherland Highlanders) (2nd A.&S.H.
Battalion)
The Connaught Rangers (2nd
94th Foot CT.
Battalion)
The Sherwood Foresters (2nd
95th Foot DY.
Battalion)
The Manchester Regiment (2nd
96th Foot MAN.
Battalion)
The Queen's Own (Royal West Kent)
97th Foot W.KT.
(2nd Battalion)

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Markings on British and Commonwealth Bayonets

The Prince of Wales's (North

98th Foot Staffordshire Regiment) (2nd N.STF.
Battalion)
The Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire
99th Foot WTS.
Regiment) (2nd Battalion)
The Prince of Wales's Leinster
100th Foot LEIN.
Regiment (Royal Canadians)
The Royal Munster Fusiliers (Royal
101st Foot M.F.
Bengal Fusiliers)
The Royal Dublin Fusiliers (Royal
102nd Foot D.F.
Madras Fusiliers)
The Royal Dublin Fusiliers (The
103rd Foot D.F.
Royal Bombay Fusiliers)
The Royal Munster Fusiliers (Bengal
104th Foot M.F.
Fusiliers)
The King's Own (Yorkshire Light
105th Foot Infantry) (2nd Battalion) (The Y.L.I.
Madras Light Infantry)
The Durham Light Infantry (2nd
106th Foot DM.
Battalion) (Bombay Light Infantry)
The Royal Sussex Regiment (2nd
107th Foot SX.
Battalion) (Bengal Infantry)
The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (2nd
108th Foot IN.F.
Battalion) (Madras Infantry)
The Prince of Wales's Leinster
109th Foot Regiment (Royal Canadians) (2nd LEIN.
Battalion) (Bombay Infantry)
1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Battalion The
(none) Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's R.B.
Own)
The Royal Army Service Corps
L.T.C. R.A.S.C. or A.S.C.
(Land Transport Corps)
The Royal Army Medical Corps
A.M.D. R.A.M.C. or A.M.C.
(Army Medical Dept.)
The Royal Army Ordnance Corps
A.C.D. R.A.O.C. or A.O.C.
(Army Commisariat Dept.)

Abbreviations
M.M.P. Military Mounted Police

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 Markings on British and Commonwealth Bayonets

M.F.T. Military Foot Police

R.M.C. Royal Military College
R.M.A. Royal Military Academy
S.M. School of Musketry

The regimental markings are normally (but not always) expressed in the following form:

(battalion)
(regiment)
(company)
(weapon number)
For example,

1
LEIN
3
42

decodes to the 42nd bayonet of the 3rd Company 1st Battalion of the Leinster Regiment.

Volunteer / Militia / Reserve markings are different, and are normally (but not always) in the
following format:

(type)
(regiment)
(company)

For example,

V
3 MXR
3

decodes to the 3rd Company, 3rd Middlesex Rifle Volunteers. In this type of marking,

V = Volunteer
Y = Yeomanry
M = Militia
R = Reserve

The placement of these markings is indicated in the following table.

Location of Regimental Markings

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 Markings on British and Commonwealth Bayonets

Item Location
triangular or socket across the blade, close to the
bayonets shoulder
pommel, on the side away
sword bayonets
from the body when worn
frog stud or top of the
scabbards
mouthpiece

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Examples

By way of illustration, below are the markings on 2 British bayonets in my collection, and my
(probably partially incorrect) decoding of them:

Example 1
Location Markings Interpretation

left ricasso Pattern 1903, manufactured December 1902

top of spine Enfield inspection mark

Enfield manufacturer, Enfield inspection mark,

right ricasso
Indian inspection mark, bending proof mark

Summary: Pattern 1903, manufactured in December 1902 at Enfield, used post-1952 in India

Example 2
Location Markings Interpretation

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 Markings on British and Commonwealth Bayonets

Pattern 1907, manufactured August 1918 by

left ricasso
Sanderson

right ricasso Enfield inspection marks, bending proof mark

left pommel Canadian government ownership mark

Summary: Pattern 1907, manufactured in August 1918 by Sanderson, inspected at Enfield, ended
service life in Canada

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