M1903 bayonet made in 1902

[agv44]

Hello gentlemen! Bought a bayonet Collection a few days ago, and one of the bayonets was this nice M1903 Enfield bayonet. What puzzeled me is that this bayonet is made in Nowember 1902? Could this be a bayonet from the trials or is it a reworked 1888? If anyone could help me identify the rest of the markings also I will be greatfull.

Best Regards
Arvid

[Stinkpotpete]

Some 1888 bayonets were updated with the 1903 hilt, so there's a good chance this was one of those.

[Alex W]

As Paul mentioned above this is a P1888 originally made by Sanderson in November 1902 which has been converted into a P1903. The ER under the 1903 mark is the royal cypher. The X marks are bend tests. The F markings will be inspector marks from the time of the conversion. I haven't seen the F marking before and it doesn't have a conversion date on the blade so I think it may have been converted in India. I can't help with the pommel marking.

Alex

[agv44]

Thanks a lot for good help guys!

Arvid

[Trajan]

These converted ones (P.1888 to P.1903) usually have an "EFD" stamp on the pommel head - does this one? The 'F' insepection marks are probably not GB as the GB inspector stamps indicated their factory, e.g., 'E', for Enfield, 'B', for Birmingham. The '1903' was applied at the time of the conversion.

Trajan

[agv44]

Hello Trajan! Checked the bayonet now, and there is no EFD stamp on pommel head. Maybe this bayonet was converted another place than GB. Best regards Arvid