Description

Sappers & Miners socket bayonet small sighting notch to rim. This bayonet is different to the normal S&M bayonet as there is no provision for the India Catch (see reference comments below). The heavy rim would suggest it would suit the Hanoverian Catch model  Bayonet manufactured by DEAKIN (stamped to the top of the blade) with inspection mark to ricasso. Back of hand guard strap marked “S over 4”.  No scabbard.

Unit mark of “3 over 205” to ricasso

Socket is 4.4in, S-M is 2.85in, blade is 22.25in., OA is 27.5in and MR is 0.9in or 23mm

This bayonet has the early style blade form with the fullers extending through the point and a sharpened false edge along the back of the blade to the tip

Bayonet originally from the Kevin Tarling collection in South Australia.

(Reference: similar to B&CB I18 but has small zig zag slot and is more like I23 but with hand guard. See also page 89 for reference to Hanoverian Catch)