I was hoping someone could tell me who the maker of this socket bayonet is. And what rifle it was used for.
Thanks

Marks

Dow,

It looks like a standard British bayonet for the Enfield. The broad arrow and W.D. markings are British War Department property markings and the fraction indicates the unit. I can't tell you which unit though.

Hi ORPO

Are you sure, that 3 / 75 indicates unit?

I don't know much about sockets but I think it may be a conversion date, and that the bayonet migth be converted to fit a Martini

/Amsfelder

Dow

This looks to be a Pattern 1853 socket bayonet for the Enfield rifle musket.

I think the 3/75 is a date marking for either a refurbishment or conversion.

Some of these bayonets were converted to fit the Pattern 1876 Martini Henry.

This involved the insertion of a bushing inside the socket which reduced the internal diameter from 20mm to 17.5mm.

If the bushing is there you should see it if you look from the rifle end of the socket.

The original manufacturer’s name would have been on the upper surface of the blade near the WD marking – because of the age the name often becomes unreadable.

The bayonet was used all over the British Empire and I believe were sold (along with the Enfield) to the US during the Civil War.

Richie

Amsfelder,

I am not certain of the unit markings. I do know that the so-called "British fraction" marking like this supposedly indicated the unit but I am not certain that is what this particular marking means. I tend to get lost in the meaning of the many numbers that are usually found on these bayonets.

Their is a bushing inside the socket which reduced the internal diameter from 20mm to 17.5mm. Anyway thanks for all the good info.
All the best Dow