So is it likely this bayonet was a surplus that was sold to the UK or that it could have even seen action in WW1 before being returned and then sold to the UK? I’ve uploaded some photos and hopefully they’re good enough quality. Unfortunately the man who wrote the entire section of bayonets on that site died a few years ago but he was knowledgable all the same. I’ve even confirmed this with a nice fellow who runs a website called US Military Knives over the pond.
![remington m1917 bayonet markings remington m1917 bayonet markings](https://www.americanrifleman.org/media/304ohj0l/mg_36972.jpg)
Up until then, it was common to date a bayonet by the year of manufacture, like the US M1905 bayonet which was dated for each year it was manufactured) 1906 to 1922. I know that my specific bayonet was created in the US from the markings on it. When Remington were placing their markings on the bayonets in 1918, they stamped 1918 instead of 1917. Now, getting to my actual question! I’m just curious to the history of them being given to the Home Guard. He used to live in the house my grandfather did so we believe he just left it behind. My grandfather wasn’t part of it either but talking to my parents, we do know that my great uncle was a part of it and searching archives confirmed this. Now from a handy random comment on YouTube, I’m very sure this was used in the Home Guard. I had theorised it may have belonged to a friend who died. Now I never knew where the bayonet came from as no one of my family served in either of the world wars. So going into further research I learnt about the different styles of these bayonets (the original 1913’s, the 1917 I have, the later recreations used in Vietnam etc). My curiosity piqued again the other day (it just sits in the corner of my room so I see it everyday but something just clicked to have a look again). I knew it was likely WW1 era but that was about it. When I inherited it, I did some surface level research.
![remington m1917 bayonet markings remington m1917 bayonet markings](https://www.alloutdoor.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/IMG_2673-e1612659178417.jpg)
He was a bit of a history buff, even helping to uncover local Roman roads, but he never mentioned the bayonet to anyone in the family (that we know of). It was stored in a wardrobe on the top shelf by itself. We discovered this bayonet with my grandfather died a couple of years ago. I’m just trying to get a rough idea of if this bayonet may have seen any sort of service. Hello! I think there’s probably been a few forum posts on these bayonets so some of you may be tired of seeing another one.