| Pictures (click to enlarge) |
Type | Description | Blade Length |
Overall Length |
Muzzle |
Markings | |||
| in. | mm. | in. | mm. | in. | mm. | ||||
      |
M1888 | Knife bayonet for use on the 8 mm. M1888 Mannlicher straight-pull rifles that Siam obtained from Austria.
The Siamese M1888 rifles and bayonets were used items, sold from Austrian military stocks. This example has the Austrian serial number on the crosspiece and a Siamese serial number on the pommel. The M1888 bayonet was produced by Steyr from 1888-1893. According to Slovakian bayonet collector-researcher, Andrej 'Andy' Blazicek, the "IIQ" marking was Steyr's mark signifying "second quality." The scabbard was made by the firm, Vogel & Noot of Wartberg. Vogel & Noot is still in business today, manufacturing ploughs and farm equipment. |
9.75 | 248 | 14.75 | 375 | .655 | 16.6 | Ricasso: "IIQ"
Crosspiece: "7063A" Tang (upper): "LG" Pommel: "1776" in Siamese characters Scabbard (frog stud): "V&N" |
      |
Type 45 (1903) |
Knife bayonet for use on the 8 mm M1903 Siamese Mauser rifle.
These were produced 1903-08, in Japan, at the Imperial Japanese Army Arsenal at Tokyo (Kowisikawa). The grip scales are secured with tiny screws set in escutcheons, as are found on early Japanese Type 30 bayonets. The characters on the ricasso say "R.S. 121" in Siamese, which represents the year 1903 on the Gregorian (western) Calendar. "R.S. 121" is an abbreviation for Rattanakosin Sok 121. This refers to the 121st year of the Rattanakosin Era, which began with the founding of Bangkok in 1782. The marking below the serial number is the Siamese character equivalent to the English letter B. It is believed that this symbol was of Colonel Prince Bavorady who was the officer in charge of the delegation that visited Japan during the manufacturing of the weapons. However, no historical documents have been found to confirm this. The scabbard throat is unique in having a depression that allows the scabbard to remain on the bayonet when fixed to the rifle. |
9.75 |
248 | 14.50 |
368 | .640 |
16.3 | Ricasso: Siamese characters
Pommel: "10356" in Siamese characters and inspector's mark (Siamese script 'B' inside a circle) |
     |
Type 45 (1903) | This example is more typical of Siamese Type 45 bayonets encountered by collectors. The wood grip scales have been replaced and are secured by rivets with washers. | 9.75 | 248 | 14.50 | 368 | .620 | 15.7 | Ricasso: Siamese characters
Pommel: "11445" in Siamese characters |
| Top | |||||||||
| © Ralph E. Cobb 2009 All Rights Reserved | |||||||||
