P1907 bayonet trench knife
Manufactured by Wilkinson before the start of World War 1, later shortened during the war to around a third of its blade’s length.
The Sword Bayonet, Pattern 1907 was the standard issue bayonet for the SMLE rifle used by the British Army in WW1. Much like the Lebel bayonet, it was found to be way too long to be used as a short quarter weapon in the confines of trenches, and since no armies at the time had standard issue combat knives it was shortened to answer that demand.
Although early trench knives were made on the frontline by the soldiers themselves, sometimes out of rebars out of necessity, this job was quickly picked up by regular blade manufacturers or cutlers freed up from the front, with this example being professionally transformed.
