Bayonets - Martini Henry

Posts : 5 Join date : 2013-11-12

Hi folks,

If I was looking at buying a bayonet for a Zulu War period Martini Henri, what should I look at paying? From research I think that these can be linked to different regiments and so I like a price for one that's for a regiment that was actually in South Africa and a price for one that is period but only for a regiment that was in England at the time - I'm guessing that there will be a significant difference in price? Prices with and without scabbard would be even better!

Cheers.

Subject: Re: Bayonets - Martini Henry Sun Jan 05, 2014 9:35 pm

This was posted a while ago. But Neil is the one to ask.

https://www.1879zuluwar.com/t1230-original-martini-henry-mk2-rifles

Subject: Re: Bayonets - Martini Henry Mon Jan 06, 2014 9:01 am

British and Colonial bayonets of the Zulu War period. Top to bottom:

1) Pattern 1853 bushed for Martini Henry.

2) Pattern 1876.

3) Pattern 1860 bushed for Martini Henry.

4) Pattern 1871 Naval Cutlass Bayonet.

5) Pattern 1875 commercial issued to the Natal Volunteer Infantry Regiments.

6) Commercial "Bowie Bayonet" issued to the Natal Mounted Police and a few mounted units.

Of these I understand that (1), (2) and (4) would have seen the most use in Zululand. (5) was issued to volunteer units serving as town guards and thus saw no active service. The "Bowies" (6) were generally considered useless but saw action at Isandhlwana. (3) The modified 1860s, were carried by sergeants in Line Regiments, but I have seen no photographs confirming their use in Zululand.

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Posts : 5 Join date : 2013-11-12

Err, I think, if I had been there I'd have preferred to have had the option of number 4 rather than number 6! Thanks though folks this is really helpful.

Posts : 553 Join date : 2009-10-14 Location : Loughborough

Here's the full list http://www.martinihenry.org/index.php?route=product/category&path=61_64

I do have some Common Long Socket bayonets in so if you do need one P.M me, they've become known as the Pattern 76, but in reality, that isn't the official title. Prices with a scabbard vary but £95-110. The bayonets were rarely regimentally marked, only rack numbered, albeit a scabbard found for a pattern 53/74 socket bayonet was collected off the battlefield, it was 1.24 marked, and was subject of an excellent article by Graham Priest some time back.

Hook describes both the converted P53/74 and the common long bayonet in his story in the Royal magazine stating “we were using the old three sided bayonets, and long thin blade we called the “Lung” bayonet".

In Zululand the 3/60th (KRR) would have carried the P56/60 Yataghan Sword as standard being a Rifles Regiment

regards

Subject: Re: Bayonets - Martini Henry Mon Jan 06, 2014 12:39 pm

Hi Neil.

Any Yataghan's in stock yet?

Salute

Posts : 553 Join date : 2009-10-14 Location : Loughborough

Martin no, all the one's I have seen have been poor or no scabbards. regards

Subject: Re: Bayonets - Martini Henry Mon Jan 06, 2014 1:17 pm

Thanks Neil.

Could you drop me a pm if you come accross a decent one?

Best regards and all the best for the new year.

Salute

Posts : 182 Join date : 2012-02-16 Location : northeast usa

terrylee wrote:: British and Colonial bayonets of the Zulu War period. Top to bottom:

1) Pattern 1853 bushed for Martini Henry.

2) Pattern 1876.

3) Pattern 1860 bushed for Martini Henry.

4) Pattern 1871 Naval Cutlass Bayonet.

5) Pattern 1875 commercial issued to the Natal Volunteer Infantry Regiments.

6) Commercial "Bowie Bayonet" issued to the Natal Mounted Police and a few mounted units.

Of these I understand that (1), (2) and (4) would have seen the most use in Zululand. (5) was issued to volunteer units serving as town guards and thus saw no active service. The "Bowies" (6) were generally considered useless but saw action at Isandhlwana. (3) The modified 1860s, were carried by sergeants in Line Regiments, but I have seen no photographs confirming their use in Zululand.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

thank you sir for posting these, i've never seen that bowie blade bayonet before.

Subject: Re: Bayonets - Martini Henry Thu Jan 23, 2014 6:27 am

The "Bowie" bayonet fits the Swinburn Henry carbine as carried by the mounted volunteers and police. It appears that they were neither particularly effective nor well regarded and only 190 were ever acquired by the Natal Government.

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