Richard Jefferies

My son-in-law recently gave me a bayonet which he seems to this is very valuable, but I have my doubts. From what I've been able to gather, it's a standard WW1 U.S. issue bayonet meant to used with the Springfield '03A3. It has a scabbard, is 21 3/4" OAL, with a blade length of 16 7/8". Left side of the blade is marked just above the hilt "1913", the "5" then "13." Beneath that is the Remington logo. Reverse side of the blade has what I'm taking to be proof marks, some oriental looking. See attached photos.

Anyone got any ideas on value?

Attached Images

	3.26.09-Bayonet 1 (600 x 450).jpg (45.7 KB, 287 views)
	3.26.09-Bayonet 3 (600 x 450).jpg (68.9 KB, 281 views)
	3.26.09-Bayonet 2 (600 x 450).jpg (75.7 KB, 280 views)

I've seen nice looking examples of these marked at around $200 at gun shows in California back in 2005. Like new condition and rare proof marks will enhance the value. Somewhere I have a picture of my father posing with a 1903 with one of these pig stickers.

milenski

I have seen some of these go as high as $300. During ww2 most of these were cut to 10 inches to save material. It doesn't look parkerized so it may be in original condition. Definately a keeper.

dfariswheel

I'm not up on bayonets all that much, but I'm fairly sure you actually have a bayonet for a British Pattern 14 .303 Enfield rifle.
The P14 was later altered to use the US 30-06 and used by us as the Model 1917 Enfield rifle.

These British rifles and bayonets were made by Winchester, Remington, and Eddystone under contract for the British in early WWI.
The "oriental" marks are actually a British "Broad Arrow" acceptance stamp and a British Crown stamp.

The scabbard is also a P14 scabbard, made of leather with a metal throat.
These American-made, British issue bayonets are worth less then the exact same bayonet as issued and marked with US stamps.
It will not fit the 1903 Springfield or the M1 rifle.

if it fits a 1917 it should fit a Winchester Model 97 Trench Gun.

milenski

I just noticed the two grooves in the handle. It is actually for the U.S. M1917 also mistakenly called the p-17 or 1917 Enfield. An easy identifier is the two groove handle. The bayonets for the P-14 don't have them and the locking mechanism is slightly diffferent and are not interchangeable with the M1917. It will however fit the U.S. made trench gun bayonet lugs. The P-14 bayonets sell for $45-$75 but the M1917 can pass $300.

Richard Jefferies

Thanks for all the input, guys. It looks like what we have is a U.S. M1917 w/British acceptance marks, value possibly beyond $300. If that is accurate, it's worth more than I thought, but not as much as my S-I-L thinks; he thought it was worth thousands. (Go figure.)