Odd Dimensioned Brit Dawes Bayonet ID

murph21 · 7th December 2025, 03:49 AM

Thanks again Jim for this feedback! (and apologies if this is not the right forum for bayonets). I had gotten some feedback from some other bayonet sites as well so just trying to build my knowledge about them and get a few opinions. The thing that seems to be different with this one is the much shorter blade and the shorter overall length as it seems 21" or so was the "standard" length for most British bayonets. But as you say I think some of the carbines and "lighter" guns maybe had shorter ones?....but it's not real clear from the various reference books I've seen. And yes Dawes did seem to have a pretty long period of production. The broadhead stamp (or whatever it is) is pretty hard to decipher.

Well, as they say...good enough for Government work I guess

Thanks again.

Murph

Jim McDougall · 7th December 2025, 03:54 PM

You bet Murph! and you've really set my sights on bayonets, which is a field I have neglected entirely in my years of study (many many moons). This is entirely the proper place to study these, it is the period that it is of concern. The objective is to avoid the encroachment of the multitudes of 20th c. bayonets of the world war periods which inevitably drag in militaria and war surplus.
I began my collecting syndrome as a kid prowling through war surplus stores which were everywhere in those days (50s) and I could buy bayonets for a quarter. Little did I know what odyssey had begun!

With bayonets, I knew a bit on plug bayonets, as my late friend Roger Evans wrote the book on them ("The Plug Bayonet", R.D.C.Evans), and these were essentially hunting daggers later so well marked etc.

The ubiquitous 'socket' bayonet however has a degree of literature, but the design is so simple, very hard to distinguish usually aside from, as you note, dimensions.

It seems most of these from the land pattern muskets (I still cant figure what 'land' means.....is it aside from sea?) were in about 16-17" lengths. It makes sense that dragoon carbine use would require shorter versions, as the Elliott mentioned.

That odd mark resembles the broad arrow but it is deformed somewhat.

I broke down and paid the ransom on the bayonet book by Goldstein, you got me goin'! so I'll keep you posted, so to speak.

Best
Jim

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

7th December 2025, 03:49 AM	#1
murph21 Member Join Date: Nov 2025 Posts: 11	Thanks again Jim for this feedback! (and apologies if this is not the right forum for bayonets). I had gotten some feedback from some other bayonet sites as well so just trying to build my knowledge about them and get a few opinions. The thing that seems to be different with this one is the much shorter blade and the shorter overall length as it seems 21" or so was the "standard" length for most British bayonets. But as you say I think some of the carbines and "lighter" guns maybe had shorter ones?....but it's not real clear from the various reference books I've seen. And yes Dawes did seem to have a pretty long period of production. The broadhead stamp (or whatever it is) is pretty hard to decipher. Well, as they say...good enough for Government work I guess Thanks again. Murph

7th December 2025, 03:54 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,822	You bet Murph! and you've really set my sights on bayonets, which is a field I have neglected entirely in my years of study (many many moons). This is entirely the proper place to study these, it is the period that it is of concern. The objective is to avoid the encroachment of the multitudes of 20th c. bayonets of the world war periods which inevitably drag in militaria and war surplus. I began my collecting syndrome as a kid prowling through war surplus stores which were everywhere in those days (50s) and I could buy bayonets for a quarter. Little did I know what odyssey had begun! With bayonets, I knew a bit on plug bayonets, as my late friend Roger Evans wrote the book on them ("The Plug Bayonet", R.D.C.Evans), and these were essentially hunting daggers later so well marked etc. The ubiquitous 'socket' bayonet however has a degree of literature, but the design is so simple, very hard to distinguish usually aside from, as you note, dimensions. It seems most of these from the land pattern muskets (I still cant figure what 'land' means.....is it aside from sea?) were in about 16-17" lengths. It makes sense that dragoon carbine use would require shorter versions, as the Elliott mentioned. That odd mark resembles the broad arrow but it is deformed somewhat. I broke down and paid the ransom on the bayonet book by Goldstein, you got me goin'! so I'll keep you posted, so to speak. Best Jim