MINT** British Yeomanry Private Purchase Commercial Pattern 1888 Lee Metford Bayonet Regiment Marked ‘1SX’ To The 1st Sussex Rifle Volunteers & Land Pattern Scabbard. Sn 20770 Bayonets

**MINT** British Yeomanry Private Purchase Commercial Pattern 1888 Lee Metford Bayonet Regiment Marked ‘1SX’ To The 1st Sussex Rifle Volunteers & Land Pattern Scabbard. Sn 20770 - 20770

The 1st Sussex Rifle Volunteers was a part-time unit of the British Army first raised from the county of Sussex in 1859. It later became the 6th (Cyclist) Battalion of the Royal Sussex Regiment. Elements of the Sussex Rifle volunteers fought in the Boer war. During World War I it served in home defence in Britain and Ireland, while its 2nd Line battalion served in India and Waziristan. It was not reformed after the war. Some Pattern 1888 bayonets were produced using ex-Government parts for the commercial market. These bayonets typically have blued pommel & cross guard, no oil drain hole and no maker marks. They were issued with a leather scabbard with blued steel mounts (see page 338 No.86 & page 321 of the bayonet book by Watts & White). These bayonets were put into the commercial market to encourage private purchase by yeomanry / Militia units. This is an original near mint condition commercial pattern P1888 bayonet Regiment marked to the 1st Sussex Rifle Volunteers & original Land Pattern scabbard. The bayonet has its original undamaged wooden grips with correct steel and brass rivets and no oil drain hole. It has the correct blued steel pommel with release button which functions as it should & blued steel cross guard. The pommel is Regiment marked ‘1SX’ To The 1st Sussex Rifle Volunteers. It's 12" double edged blade with medial ridge correctly has no maker or date marks. The blade is clean and bright. It has its original black leather land pattern scabbard with steel throat mount and internal chape correctly with just the steel tip protruding. The throat mount and chape are correctly blued. There are no maker or date marks on the scabbard. The price includes UK delivery. Sn 20770

£495.00