East India Company 1841 Pattern Socket Bayonet

Socket bayonet with triangular blade, the broad face of the blade unfullered while the two narrower faces are fullered, the socket with distinctive enlarged socket rim with a crescent shaped hole. Brown leather scabbard with brass throat and chape pieces, the throat piece with teardrop shaped frog stud, the chape piece secured with steel rivets and with a drainage hole at the tip. Blade 17 inches in length, socket 3 inches, muzzle ring diameter 24mm, scabbard 15 7/8 inches in length

The broad face of the blade is stamped at the forte with ‘E.B’, while the top of the socket is engraved with numerals including ‘5’ – these marks are faint and there are numerous small dents which may have been applied to cancel the markings. The chape piece of the scabbard is stamped with ‘C^15’ where ^ is a broad arrow War Department mark. I believe this is an Indian mark, I have seen similar markings on Indian 1907 Pattern scabbard fittings.

The blade and socket have some areas of light patination, some spots of light pitting and forging imperfections to the blade. The leather of the scabbard has some surface-level cracking, one chunk taken out of the front face next to the throat piece, some warping and abrasion to the seam on the reverse side, with an uneven line of stitching added as a repair. Some dents and spots of patination to the brass fittings. The chape piece is attached to the leather on only one side – take care to support it once the blade has been withdrawn.