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First, the "academic dissertation" -
Neither of my references dealing specifically with Canadian military longarms ("Defending the Dominion: Canadian Military Rifles, 1855-1955" by David W. Edgecombe, and "The Military Arms of Canada" compiled by The Upper Canada Historical Arms Society) make any mention of bayonets for the Martini-Henry rifles acquired in either 1874 or 1885. However, it was certainly the common practice to acquire suitable bayonets with military longarms, the bayonet being such an important part of military tactics at that time.

The Pattern 1876 triangular-bladed socket bayonet which became the standard for the Martini-Henry during its period of service, as its designation suggests, wasn't finalized until June of 1876 (List of Changes 2953) - mind you, like many British weapons and other bits of kit, it may actually have been in production for some period of time before its formal adoption date. However, I'd say it is pretty certain that such bayonets wouldn't have been in production when the MkI rifles came to Canada. Since none of these rifles was issued right away, however, it is entirely possible the P'76 bayonet would have been readily avaialble, and used, when any of the Canadian rifles were finally issued. As you likely know, IMA have original P'76 bayonets for sale for about US$45. Like many such antique bladed weapons, they don't come with scabbards, but IMA sell a reproduction scabbard.

Before the P'76 was available, the bayonet used with M-H rifles was the Pattern 1853 ssocket bayonet designed for use with the muzzle-loading .577 cal P'53 Enfield rifle (and which continued in use with the Snider-Enfield cartridge conversions) Its larger-diameter socket was bushed to fit the Martini-Henry barrel. http://www.martinihenry.com/bayonets.htm

Although a P'76 bayonet certainly will "do", my strong feeling is that having lucked into this very nice early MkI rifle it would definitely be worthwhile to try to mate it up with a "proper" bushed P'53 bayonet. I'd have thought that the chances of finding an original bushed P'53 bayonet in decent shape - let alone with a scabbard that is even useable - would be very slim .... but then that's what I though about finding a checkered buttplate, wasn't it!

Believe it or not, Collector's Source (in Canada) has precisely such a bayonet currently listed for sale - in very nice shape and with a very respectable scabbard, from the looks of the pictures!!!


It is item B401, third item down on this page of their website - http://www.collectorssource.com/category.asp?catid=4 If you click on the little camera icon, it'll bring up several photos, from which the above was taken. However, for some reason, the site seduces all such photos in width, making every item distorted. However, just right-click on each picture, and then select "view image" to see an undistorted image. (This assumes a Windows-based PC system, but some sort of similar procedure should be usable on your system if you run something different.)

I'd say that their price, at $225, is actually quite reasonable for a bushed P'53 in such nice shape, with scabbard.

Jump on this! (By the way, have you bought those lottery tickets yet? )

I hear where you are coming from on your reticence to "brag" about price. Mind you, I suspected you got a very good deal, and just wanted to punish myself even more with envy .....

Well, you certainly did well by the seller's lack of knowledge in this case! To my mind, because it is one of the "late second pattern" Canadian Mark I's, the price you paid was no more than half what this rifle is really worth, even taking into account the missing buttplate and ramrod, and the hole in the underside of the forestock. Well done!

That brings up something else - Gary hasn't mentioned it here yet but in private communications, "between neighbors" as it were, he has asked what I know about the hole in the underside of the forestock just ahead of the triggerguard (as shown in the last photo in post #7.) He indicates that it is about 1/4" in diameter at the opening, although it is not that full diameter for its whole length I gather, goes in at an angle and joins with "a perpendicular hole extending from the inletting inside the forearm for the forearm pin retaining tab" From that, I understand he means that it connects with the inlet for that lug, but if not perhaps he can clarify.

I am puzzled by this hole and cannot offer him any insight - other than to confirm that it is "non-standard". If it were smaller, and directly in line with the pin lug recess, I'd think it was perhaps done to introduce a punch to break free a lug which had rusted into its recess, but that wouldn't seem to fit here. Can anyone advise if they've seen something like this before, or offer any suggestions regarding the reason for drilling such a hole?