SECOND WORLD WAR BRITISH INDIA PATTERN LEE ENFIELD NUMBER 1 MARK II* BAYONET AND SCABBARD MANUFACTURED IN JULY 1943 BY NORTH WEST RAILWAYS TO FIT THE SHORT MAGAZINE LEE ENFIELD, THE SAME TYPE OF BAYONET ISSUED TO THE CHINDITS OF THE 14^th ARMY IN BURMA FOR OPERATION LONGCLOTH (FIRST CHINDIT EXPEDITION IN EARLY 1943) AND STAMPED DP (DRILL PURPOSE). 

This rare bayonet is in outstanding original condition and was manufactured during the Second World War in July 1943.  The Mk II* stamped on the blade, the rounded hilt (not squared off as on the Number 1 Mark III) and the false edge indicate that this is a genuine and scarce Number 1 Mark II*. The false edge, which was cut close to the point, on India Pattern Number 1 Mark II* bayonets, as opposed to its absence on other Mk II’s is believed by some to indicate weapons prepared for operational use although that is disproved by this bayonet which is marked on both the ricasso and the crossguard with the stamp DP (Drill Purpose).

The markings are clearly visible, with the NWR (North West Railways) manufacturer’s stamp, the MkII* type mark and 7’ 43 July 1943 date stamped on the obverse ricasso, as well as the King George VI Crown and initials G.R.I. (George Rex Imperator - 1938 - 1952).  Interestingly, the 7 of the date is over-stamped across the 43 year indicator.  The reverse ricasso and the crossguard is stamped DP for ‘Drill Purpose’.  The pommel is stamped with an armoury rack number 171. Both the mahogany grips and the scabbard are in excellent original condition as are the muzzle ring, crossguard and 12 inch blade which still retain most of their original blueing. The Scabbard, which is also in mint condition is stamped and embossed with the manufacturers mark W and the feint date 1942.  The scabbard also still retains almost all of its original bluing on the locket and chape (see pictures). 

Interestingly, photographs of the Operation Longcloth (the first Chindit expedition Feb – Apr 1943) show many of the troops belonging to 77^th Indian Infantry Brigade, the formation that made up the bulk of the expedition equipped with Mark II* bayonets.  It also appears to have been widely issued by the time of the re-invasion of Burma by 14th Army in late 1944 and 1945 as many photographs from numerous different formations show troops equipped with India Pattern bayonets.  A couple of photographs of similar India Pattern Bayonets being carried, are attached for reference. The first shows Gurkhas of the 25th Indian Division taking Japanese PoWs in 1945.  The second shows Brigadier “Mad” Mike Calvert, Commander of 77^th Indian Infantry Brigade briefing Lt Col Shaw (who has his bayonet fixed), and Major James Rutherford, in a Burmese village.

These bayonets are rare, especially in this condition and from this maker, with the characteristic false edge that identifies them as Mark II*.  During the Second World War, many of North West Railways workshops were converted to produce war materiel and this bayonet is an example of their handiwork. They were made to fit the India Pattern Mark 1 or Mark 2A Lee Enfield Rifles manufactured for use in the Far East Theatre of Operations, and specifically Burma as the long 1907 bayonet had proved unwieldy in the early Jungle fighting against the Japanese.  A small number of RFI Mark II and III bayonets stamped DP, which stands for Drill Purpose, have turned up in recent years, and this is one of those.  On most of those those models, RFI cut down the No.1, 18 inch bayonet to 12 inches and dulled the edge and point to create a drill bayonet.

Unusually, that is not the case with this DP bayonet. This bayonet is not a cutdown (it has no blood gutter), although it is stamped DP.  It is an India pattern Number 1 Mark II* in superb mint original condition from a very well regarded but less common maker: steel and wood hilt with a round steel press button and internal spring, two piece mahogany wood grips, secured by two steel screw bolts, steel crossguard with muzzle ring and short quillion.  Single edged unfullered steel blade with false top edge, dated 7/43.

Maker: NWR

Overall Length: 425.0 mm

Blade Length:  307.0 mm

Blade Width (at guard):  24.0 mm

Scabbard: Blued steel and leather with a circular fixing stud, dated 1944 and stamped with an unidentified diamond shaped makers mark. Overall length of scabbard:  325.0 mm

From Australia, this is a very fine ‘Investment Quality’ India pattern Mark II* DP Bayonet with its distinctive false edge, you will not find a better example of one of these very rare bayonets anywhere.