{"product_id":"siamese-type-45-bayonet","title":"Siamese Type-45 Bayonet","description":"\u003cp\u003eSiamese Type 45 Mauser Bayonet – Dated R.S. 121 \/ 1903 – First Contract Example\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOne of the more interesting things about this pattern is that it was the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003efirst Mauser bayonet also interchangeable with the German export M1904 pattern\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, meaning Siamese Type 45 and German M1904 bayonets will fit the same rifles.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe ricasso is marked \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“R.S. 121”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e in Siamese script, dating it to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1903\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. This refers to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRattanakosin Sok 121\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, counted from the founding of Bangkok in 1782. After Siam adopted the Buddhist calendar in 1913, this pattern became known as the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eType 45\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, with \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBuddhist year 2445\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e also equating to 1903.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis example also carries a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003erare inspector’s mark\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e on the pommel below the serial number, believed to be associated with \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePrince J.M.C. Bawordadej\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, who oversaw production in Tokyo on behalf of the Royal Siamese Army. That mark is generally accepted as identifying bayonets from the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003efirst contract of 20,000\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSiam had originally hoped Mauser would produce these, but Mauser was already tied up with heavy German and Turkish military contracts. Production was instead licensed to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJapan\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, with rifles and bayonets manufactured in \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1903\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e at the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eImperial Japanese Army Arsenal in Tokyo\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis example has been \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003erefinished\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, as the original finish would have been polished steel. The \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003egrips are original\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and show clear wear, but remain correctly fitted using the original circular nut and bolt construction. It has the expected \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ebeaked pommel, muzzle ring, press-stud catch, fullered 24.9 cm blade\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, and comes complete with its \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003erolled steel scabbard\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMarks noted:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e•\u003cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRicasso:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e “R.S. 121” in Siamese script\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e•\u003cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePommel:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Siamese serial number plus inspector’s mark\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e•\u003cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eScabbard frog stud:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e “AB” within a cartouche\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA solid early 20th century example with clear age and service wear. The wood grips are well worn with chips and dents, but remain secure. The locking mechanism works properly. The blade retains a worn blued finish with no pitting noted. Edge and point are clean, with no major dings. The scabbard has a refurbished blackened finish, no dents, and fits the bayonet properly.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA very good example of an early Siamese Mauser bayonet, with strong collector interest thanks to the early date, Japanese production, and rare first-contract inspector’s mark.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Davidson Militaria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":59232711016529,"sku":null,"price":350.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1024\/4731\/7073\/files\/DFEC9ECF-B5B1-4304-82EB-F42A20B541E9.jpg?v=1774418655","url":"https:\/\/davidsonmilitaria.com\/products\/siamese-type-45-bayonet","provider":"Davidson Militaria","version":"1.0","type":"link"}