04 October 2020

Martini-Henry rifle bayonets, slings, and ammunition boxes

I have had a couple of very interesting exchanges with collectors at the Victorian Military Society (on Facebook), one about bayonets and slings, and one about replica ammunition boxes.

Regarding equipment used with the Martini-Henry rifle I learned that most units had buff or white leather slings, while KRRC and Rifle battalions had black or brown slings, and retained the the rear butt stock sling swivel, as on Mk I rifles. The yataghan bayonet was used by all ranks of Royal Marine Light Infantry and Camel Corps, and also used by infantry regiment sergeants.

The four bayonet types used with the MkI upgrade and MkII Martini-Henry rifle in regular British military use, top to bottom: 1871 pattern Naval cutlass bayonet; 1858/60 pattern bushed yataghan bayonet; 1876 pattern socket bayonet; 1853 pattern bushed socket bayonet.
Image courtesy Jack Fletcher.

Replica Martin-Henry ammunition box.
Images courtesy Adrien Rousset.

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