Original Items: Very Few Available. While doing some Spring Cleaning, we have unearthed some “new” inventory, mainly bayonets! We came across a very small amount of these P-1888 Mk.I Bayonets for the Lee-Metford & Long Lee-Enfield Rifles, all without scabbards and expected to go fast! They all vary in condition and all share the same appearances, minor oxidation, greasy and shows storage wear. Once cleaned up, your P1888 bayonet would look fantastic!
These are very nice late Victorian Era British Pattern of 1888 bayonet, made originally to fit the Magazine Lee–Metford (MLM) rifle, first introduced in 1888. This rifle had been designed to use a .303 Black Powder cartridge, however smokeless powder was later introduced for a new .303 cartridge, and the Metford rifling proved to be wholly unsuited for the more powerful propellant. As such, a new rifle was introduced in 1895, the Magazine Lee–Enfield, or MLE, which was almost identical to the MLM, but with a new barrel and sights. The stock and fittings were the same, and it took the same bayonet. This rifle was then itself superseded by the legendary Rifle, Short, Magazine, Lee–Enfield or SMLE in 1904, which had a different bayonet mounting system.
Approximate Specifications:
Blade Length: 12″
Blade Style: Double Edged Hollow Ground Spear Point
Overall length: 16 5/8″
Crossguard: 2 5/8”