Skip to main content
Advanced Search
Record
British Knife-Bladed "Sea Service" Bayonet
Record

British Knife-Bladed "Sea Service" Bayonet

Dateca.1727-1730
Maker William Huggins
OriginEngland, London
MediumIron and steel
DimensionsOL: 21 1/8" Blade: 17 1/8" x 1 5/16" Socket: 4"
Credit LineMuseum Purchase
Object number2015-179
DescriptionBritish socket bayonet of standard proportions but with a knife blade, oriented with the spine towards the bore. The blade has a false edge and spells at the base to form a stop intended to prevent over penetration of the scabbard. Its socket has a rounded "shield" shaped decoration at the junction with its rectangular-sectioned shank. Cut with a long first mortise leg, it has a very short muzzle length of only 1". The musket intended to mount this bayonet would have had its bayonet lug very close to the muzzle, but would have its forestock reduced in the typical proportion.
Label TextDuring the 1720s, the Board of Ordnance was striving to standardize the armaments of the British fighting forces. This period saw the birth of the "Brown Bess" bayonet which was to become standard issue for the British Army until well into the nineteenth century. To differential between bayonets for the army and those for use aboard ship, the Ordnance is believed to have adopted this pattern as a distinctive "Sea Service" bayonet. While it shares the same basic proportions as the usual triangular-bladed type issued to the land forces, it features a knife shaped blade. Other differences include an unusual mortise, showing that its companion musket mounted a bayonet lug very close to the muzzle.

Although the "Brown Bess" bayonet had a very long service life, these knife-bladed weapons were quickly deemed impractical for use, and very few were made. Other than this example, the only other located is now in the collections of the Royal Armouries at Leeds, England.
Markings"WH" stanped into the bottom face of the blade (when fixed on a musket).