Pat '07 Bayonet for my SMLE

[Tommy Atkins]

Well I dun did it. Won a Pat 07 Bayonet off e-pay!
I've been looking for one to fit the BSA 1914 ShtLE & this looks like a suitable candidate in well used but not beat to heck condition. Sheath leather looks like it needs a little help, but we'll see. My neatsfoot oil (not compound) & a little black shoe polish/ scuff cover dye should work wonders.
Paid US$125 shipped so I think I did all right.
I was pleased with the result, I was playing 3 vendors off against each other. They were all asking $140~$150 + shipping & I got it down to $125 shipped so I'm happy.
Can anybody tell me a bit more bout the markings?

I see:
(a very faint) Kings crown
1907
9XXXX17 (X's are blank spaces)
on one side & on the other:
A broad arrow & 3 proofs, or inspectors marks.
No makers mark that I can see though, is that odd?

The sheath has the early "teardrop" frog button, which is nice.


Sorry about poor pics will post better when it arrives. These are copied & stitched together from e-pay's page.

[Tommy Atkins]

Seems I can only post one at a time, oh well.

[Tommy Atkins]

More

[Tommy Atkins]

last

[lloydiam]

Nice !..........

[Tommy Atkins]

Someone pointed out its not a Broad Arrow, but a badly struck "X" a bending test proof.

[Tommy Atkins]

If only the seller would actually mail it it would be nice. Estimated delivery was 15th to 22 nd!

He's claiming health issues & promising to ship "Any day now, any day now"!

[Tommy Atkins]

This deal is slowly, but surely, disintegrating. It still hasn't actually left the seller yet & I've given them notice that if it isn't actually in the mail physically by the 30th I'm cancelling & disputing the charges.
Hoping for the best, but fearing the worst at this point.

[Tommy Atkins]

I guess that did the trick, reporting it to E-Pay as not shipped after payment made & still not shipped after delivery estimate date either!.
It was (finally) sent FedEx, supposedly for delivery by close of business today!
We'll see, this is like a soap opera.

[Tommy Atkins]

OK, It arrived.
Yay!
Its quite nice, in decent condition, the "rust" I thought I saw on the pics at the top of the scabbard seems to be old, dried out masking tape residue.
(anyone got a non-destructive solvent for that stuff? Will something like goo gone work?)
It seems sharpened, but I'll defer to the experts on that.
The leather is in amazingly good shape considering its age, lots of surface scuffs but no deterioration I can find.
In the mounting cut there seems to be some old Cosmo even!

The not included with it says its a "1907 MkII made by Enfield Lock (EFD) & has the oil hole (sic) in the pommel. It has the original single-stitched scabbard without retaining rivets. It rates as a 7 out of 10 for condition (Retains most of its original blued or parkerized finish with normal service wear). Its commonality is rated 3 out of 10 on a rarity scale. Rated as "relatively easy to find by a typical collector."
There is active, pitting rust on the surface of the button for the release button, which I'm addressing.
Pics, feel free to ask if you want something specific:

[Tommy Atkins]

Other side showing "rust" on scabbard & releases catch.

[Tommy Atkins]

Markings
There is a broad arrow up in the "in the white" portion in addition to the bending test "X":

[Tommy Atkins]

Different angle:

[Tommy Atkins]

Other side:

[Tommy Atkins]

Different light, some are very faint.
If you can see "EFD" there your eyes are better than mine!