AFGHANISTAN

French 1886 Lebel brought back from Afghanistan, only one of about 30 with any afghan markings and these are restricted to these seen on the hilt. Interestingly there was no evidence of the rifles found. Both white metal and brass hilts with and without quillions were noted.

1888 with long blade, peculiar to Afghanistan, has Afghan marking on blade and no UK markings at all. Blade has a very wide spine similar to some of the UK volunteer models and the edge is completely unsharpened. Scabbard has integral chape and frog stud on the locket.

Locally made 1888 this has a cleaning hole in the hilt, which is not very common and few have been noted, markings are limited to a scratched X on the ricasso - maybe a passing link to the UK bend mark?  Scabbard on this has had a localised repair carried out at some time in the past. Although well made it is obviously of lower quality than the UK made examples

Afghan marked 1888, probably locally made looking at quality, although better than many it still shows very obvious machining marks. There is no cleaning hole in the hilt or pommel, but crossguard is marked and there is a distinctive ricasso marking, though not he same marking as reported in Skennerton or seen on other Afghan 88's

1903, the crown over VR or ER normally seen on these has been replaced by the royal Afghan cipher. This stamping is reported on both long and short blade 1888's but never on the 1903. The blade is clearly marked as Enfield made (efd)

 

UK 1903 Volunteer with what I have take to be Afghan tang marks

 

Hilt, blade is unmarked except for writing on tang and Wilkinson London makers mark

 

 

Unknown script on tang

 

Both visible tangs are marked with different text

 

 

Wilkinson London marked

 

Local made 1907

 

Grips are held on by brass rivets in the same fashion as the locally made 1888's

 

With post 1916 cleaning hole in the pommel

 

 

Edge is crudely made, the 45deg angle of the edge would never sharpen

 

 

Fullers are hand ground and different lengths on either side, edge finishes some distance from the cross guard

 

 

 

Fullers extend almost to the point of the blade

 

Tang tapers from blade thickness to the pommel

 

 

 

 

Although similar to the UK made fittings those on this scabbard differ in some details

 

 

 

Even mouth piece is hand cut

 

Afghan marked 1888, probably locally made looking at quality, although better than many it still shows very obvious machining marks. There is no cleaning hole in the hilt or pommel, but crossguard is marked and there is a distinctive ricasso marking, though not he same marking as reported in Skennerton or seen on other Afghan 88's in the texts. The crudity of the manufacture is shown on the locking stud and rough grinding seen in some areas

Dual stamped local made 1888, note odd placing of rivets
Local made variation of the 1913/17 pattern bayonet. This is not one of the early ones to come out of the country and i suspect it is a repro for "tourists". In which case is the locket mark the number the guy has made, or is it a real mark
S98 cut down with added fake saw back

Turkish 1890 converted by reaming out the muzzle ring to fit on the Ross rifle. The fit is very poor with the slot to muzzle ring length being a bit long, it may be that the ross rifles for these had had the mounting lug moved slightly.

The lower two pictures are comparison pictures with a Ross crossguard, in the top view the slots are matched to show the difference in the length between the conversion and the original Ross.
Ross bayonet reground to fit in Rumanian 1893 scabbard, it is believed that this is probably of Turkish origin, five have been reported in bayonet brought back from Afghanistan. The Blade profile is not like that of any other Ross including the UK Navy contract shown for comparison
Very early RFI made 1907, possibly even a de hooked one
1890 bayonet converted to fit on the Ross rifle