English M1863 Experimental Whitworth bayonet Unit marked: Kings Royal Rifle Corps. (ABCN 1895-1)(K 1000)( JN 51-1)

Experimental Whitworth oval bore muzzle loader rifle. No serial number. Excellent heavy bright finished fullered yataghan blade with Crown over VR marking crisp on the ricasso and Enfield marking: E-Crown- 33 on reverse side. Blade spine shows J.B. and an Enfield marking. Excellent pommel with typical circular Whitworth mortise slot and an Enfield marking: E-crown-33 on blade tang. Excellent crossguard with forward swept quillon, muzzle ring (MRD 20.2 mm.) with cock comb. Crossguard is unusual unit marked:  2. 60. 390 ( = 2nd Battalion. 60th Kings Royal Rifle Corps. rifle no. 390) 
Excellent checkered black leather grips with Enfield marking E-Crown-33 on both grips and pommel with a blued external spring. 
Beautiful black leather scabbard with all stitches intact. Bright finished metal mounts with no dents. Leather body is crisp marked: /I\ over WD, Enfield marking and obsolete marking.

Superb unit marked example of a rare bayonet! 
Only 8.206 experimental Whitworth oval bore muzzle loaders and bayonets were made in 1863 at the R.S.A.F. at Enfield. These rifles and bayonets were issued to selected regiments only with a maximum of 68 rifles each unit! A small number of rifles and bayonets were also used during the civil war in the US and were very popular by sharpshooters.
This particular bayonet was issued November 28th 1864 to the second battalion of the 60th Kings Royal Rifle Corps. An infantry battalion which was in the Maori wars from 1860-1870.

A rare bayonet, but unit marked Whitworth bayonets are seldom found and are extremely rare!