EXCELLENT**Victorian British Army Volunteer’s Sappers & Miners 1855 Pattern Lancaster Rifle Pipe Back Sword Bayonet & Scabbard. Sn 21913 Bayonet

**EXCELLENT**Victorian British Army Volunteer’s Sappers & Miners 1855 Pattern Lancaster Rifle Pipe Back Sword Bayonet & Scabbard. Sn 21913

British Sappers and Miners Units adopted an oval barrel rifle in 1855 and produced their own distinctive bayonet with a Falchion or pipe backed blade. After 1857 the Sappers and Miners were renamed the Engineers so the blade is sometimes called the Engineers Bayonet. After removal from Engineer service they became a side arm particularly for the Medical Corps. Early examples had a leaf spring secured by a rivet but post 1858 the springs on these bayonets were secured by a screw. The British Government ordered quantities of these bayonets from German manufacturers & both the London and Birmingham trade (see pages 121-124 and item B160 of British & Commonwealth Bayonets By Skennerton). This is an excellent original example of the 1855 Pattern Lancaster bayonet. It has a blackened 23 ¾” pipe back blade, steel cross guard with muzzle ring and steel pommel with correct flat steel spring bar with post 1858 flat spring secured by screw and push button release which works as it should. There are no visible WD, date or maker marks indicating that this is a militia / Volunteer weapon. It's original chequered black hard boiled leather chequered grips are excellent and undamaged correctly secured by rivets. The bayonet measures 29 ¼” overall and is complete with its original leather scabbard with steel locket and chape. The leather is clean, undamaged and all stitching is intact. The price includes UK delivery. Sn 21913 (bucket armoury)

£645.00