Hi all
Heres a bayonet from my collection some of you may have not seen before and find interesting.
A Snider Carbine 2nd-type sawback sword bayonet, made specifically for the New Zealand order of Snider artillery carbines supplied by R.A.S.F Enfield.

These bayonets were a conversion of the 20 inch blade Pattern 1875 bayonet for the Martini Henry rifle, with the modifications being carried out in 1880-1881 by Enfield.

The conversion was expensive at the time, primarily as the pommel was replaced to bring the leaf spring onto the left hand side (to match the 1879 artillery sawback bayonet pattern).

Records indicate that only approximately 2100 were converted……. making this one of the world’s RAREST British Military issued bayonets.

This particular bayonet is marked with the WD mark and Enfield R.S.A.F inspection mark on the ricasso, along with 9/80 (the conversion date) on the ricasso and the low rack number 266 on the crosspiece (this would have matched the carbines serial number)

Enjoy
Jason

Click to enlarge the picture