Australian Army Museum of Western Australia > Records

British 1860 Pattern Martini Henry Yatagan Sword Bayonet

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Subcollections

Edged Weapons, Swords, Bayonets, Knives and Tools

Overview

The 578mm single-edged yataghan blade has a flat spine and deep single fuller on each side. The blade is double-edged for the last 160mm. The ricasso is stamped with a refurbishment stamp, the bend test X, the War Department WD and broad arrow and an Enfield factory inspection stamp. The obverse ricasso is stamped with the original manufacture date of February 1885.

Historical information

The yataghan sword bayonet was made for the Enfield short rifled musket. When Martini Henry rifles were adopted for general issue, the absence of an approved sword bayonet meant that existing bayonets for the Enfield rifle had to be adapted to fit. This involved the re-working of the Enfield Pattern 1856 yataghan bayonet by bushing the muzzle diameter to suit the Martini Henry’s smaller muzzle and grinding a mortised slot into the pommel to accommodate the bayonet band. This re-worked bayonet was then designated the Pattern 1860 Yataghan sword bayonet for the Martini Henry.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-32-54-503

Contextual Information

This bayonet is displayed in the Pre 1914 Galley as part of the stories of British military detachments in Western Australia from 1826 to 1870. All edged weapons, including bayonets, knives and swords in the collection of the Australian Army Museum of Western Australia are physically secured within locked display cases.

Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

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