19th Century 1879 Pattern Artillery Sawback Sword Bayonet.

Posts : 2558 Join date : 2009-04-06 Age : 62 Location : UK

19th Century 1879 Pattern Artillery Sawback Sword Bayonet 79.5cm long overall with a 65.5cm long sawback blade.

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Martini Henry Artillery Carbine with a similar bayonet attached.

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Posts : 558 Join date : 2012-05-05

Was it actually used as a saw?

Posts : 110 Join date : 2013-09-07

This was a follow on from the 1875 pattern sawback bayonet - and was issued to artillery as a multi purpose tool - intended to be able to be used in the same way the Pioneer swords were used - the initial reports on trials included cutting brushwood and planks, butchering a sheep and other useful things. It followed on the 1870 Elcho bayonet - for the Zulu War the lads would have had the 1875 model - the 1879 coming in a bit late (unless someone has a photo of the 2nd invasion crews carrying them????)

The sawback bayonets were made obsolete in the late 1890's - and I think were banned by the Geneva convention round about the Great War - the Germans carried them as "butcher bayonets" in 1914.

I have examples of all 3 types sitting here in the collection. Atb - Tim

» British Pattern 1876 socket bayonet
» Royal Artillery Other-Ranks frock, January 1879
» Recollections of a Life in the British Army During the Latter Half of the 19th Century" By GENERAL 8IR RICHARD HARRISON, G.C.B., C.M.G.