Regrettably a much faked item today, this rare 1907 Hooked Quillon Bayonet is however, like everything I list, the real deal; and to top it all it is in absolutely superb condition.
Immediately recognisable as an original by it not having the later prescribed “clearance hole” to the pommel, which the fake conversions of standard 1907 Bayonets naturally have, this Hooked Quillon 1907 Bayonet was made by the Royal Arms Factory Enfield in January 1910. This attribution shown by the “EFD” and “1’10” markings respectively below the Edward VII cypher to the blade's ricasso.
The other side of the ricasso has the usual “X” bending test mark, broad arrow Government acceptance mark, and various inspection marks.
To the Bayonet’s pommel there is then a very nice unit issue stamp to the 3rd Battalion Royal Highlanders, this being the famous Scottish regiment The Black Watch.
All the while the bluing to the hilt is in outstanding condition, whilst the blade itself is magnificent with no sharpening or re-profiling etc.
From the 29th of October 1913 onwards Hooked Quillon 1907 Pattern Bayonets were no longer manufactured as by then the Mk2 1907 Pattern Bayonet without Hooked Quillon was approved and thus manufacture switched to that.
Any Hooked Quillon Bayonets already issued were kept in service however and as such these rare Bayonets are absolutely representative of all the early WW1 battles on the Western Front as of course it is of the Gallipoli campaign as is well known.
The Hooked Quillon 1907 Pattern Bayonet was actually worn throughout WW1 though as the war went on it became scarcer and scarcer as any Hooked Quillon Bayonets taken in for repair had their Quillons removed before re-issue, hence the rarity of genuine examples today.
The scabbard to this Bayonet is no less pleasing. This is the second pattern of scabbard for Hooked Quillon Bayonets, made with external chape and manufactured from the 12th of October 1909 onwards, which given the 1910 date of the Bayonet is absolutely correct.
This particular 1909 pattern scabbard is a stunning example of the type. First and foremost it retains its extremely rare brown colour to the leather, this colour being changed to black at the end of WW1 with all Bayonets still in service having their scabbards blackened then.
This is important as any true depiction of WW1 British or Commonwealth soldier must show a brown bayonet scabbard in use, yet the unfortunate collector seldom has the chance to find these now.
Despite an extensive search of the internet I have not been able to locate a single Hooked Quillon Bayonet for sale anywhere which has the correct brown leather scabbard for the type.
If that was not enough to further enhance this scabbard’s exceptional status it is actually beautifully dated 1915, this the classic WW1 period for Hook Quillon Bayonets however such early dated scabbards are so rarely encountered today.
A stunning Bayonet which would prove very difficult to upgrade.
