This is a rare and well-made WW2 fighting knife fashioned from a 1907 pattern WW1 bayonet. The bayonet is marked with the inverted arrows, “sold out of service” stamp, indicating that post WW1 it was decommissioned and sold for private purchase. It is likely that the owner of the knife bought the bayonet to make a fighting knife for use during WW2. The presence of a 1937 pattern webbing frog supports this being a WW2 period fighting knife.
The 166mm/6.5-inch blade has a sharp single edge. The blade is in good condition with scattered pin-pricks of shallow pitting. The ricasso bears a faint crowned GR cypher above the pattern date of 1907. The production date of 5 ’1? (May 191?) is stamped below, along with the partial makers’ name, Sanderson. The obverse ricasso is stamped with the War Department arrow, and three faint Enfield inspection marks and a bend test X.
The steel pommel retains its original blued finish and has had the attachment mechanism removed, providing a hole through the pommel for the attachment of a lanyard. The pommel is stamped with a sold out of service mark and the number 19 or 61 on the obverse.
The bayonet’s original scabbard was adapted to accommodate the shortened blade. The scabbard is in good condition with use and age-related wear. The stitching of the seam is intact. The scabbard is complete with a 1937 pattern khaki webbing frog. The knife sheathes and draws smoothly and is held firmly within the scabbard.
This is an interesting and rare WW2 fighting knife.
