WWI BRITISH 1888 MKI TYPE II BAYONET AND SCABBARD, 12 in. long blade with an overall length of 16.5 in., for the P-14 Enfield Rifle. Nice late Victorian Era British Pattern of 1888 bayonet, made to fit the Magazine Lee–Metford Rifle, of MLM introduced in 1888, designed to use a .303 black powder cartridge, however smokeless powder was later introduced for a new .303 cartridge, and the Metford rifling proved to be wholly unsuited for the more powerful propellant. As such, a new rifle was introduced in 1895, the Magazine Lee–Enfield, or MLE, which was almost identical to the MLM, but with a new barrel and sights. The stock and fittings were the same, and it took the same bayonet, the P-1888. It is designed to mount to lug underneath the MLM or the MLE barrel, and slides over the cleaning rod. This bayonet has a wooden handle secured by brass rivets, and has a spear point hollow ground blade. The blade is stamped with an acceptance mark ‘W D' underneath a British broad arrow, and an ‘X' indicating it has gone through a bend test. The verso is stamped: ‘3 01' possibly indicating the bayonet was made in March 1901. This same blade was again used on the Pattern 1903 bayonet for a new SMLE rifle. The bayonet comes with a very nice solid scabbard, featuring a leather body, with a metal throat and tip protector, with a 'round' shaped frog stud. Also retains most of the original stamps, as pictured.