English (New Zealand) M 1875 artillery trials bayonet. (ABCN1525)(K0)(JN0)(Ian Skennerton Page 359-N2)
English Snider Artillery carbine MKIII. Serial number: 84 on crossguard. English M 1875 trials bayonet for New Zealand. Excellent + bright finished saw back blade with a long false edge. Ricasso is dated with the convertion date: 9 /'80 and the reverse side is marked with an Enfield inspection marking /I\ over WD over Crown over E over 59. Excellent bright finished pommel and a crossguard with a spoon shaped quillon and a muzzle ring MRD 2.0. Short mortise slot marked Crown over E over 59. External leaf spring on the left side of the hilt. Excellent checkered black leather grips fixed to the blade tang by 4 steel rivets. Grips show some light wear to the checkering only.
Excellent black leather scabbard with bright finished steel fittings. Olive shape top mount is marked with a broad arrow. All stitches intact and non dents to the fittings.
Total length bayonet: ca. 65 cm
Extremely rare Artillery trials bayonet. According to Ian Skennerton in his book: British & Commonwealth bayonets, Page 359, N2) there were only 2.100 M1875 Martini-Henry sawback bayonets converted at Enfield for the Snider artillery carbines, delivered to New Zealand in 1880/81