Here we have an absolutely superb Canadian Ross MKII bayonet, complete with its original WW1 leather scabbard. Two things immediately stand out on this piece:

1. The blade is in near mint condition – genuinely one of the best Ross blades I’ve handled.

2.  The leather scabbard is in superb condition, far better than the majority you come across.

A real quality Canadian WW1 piece – honest, untouched, and exactly what collectors appreciate.

Blade:

The 257mm un-fullered, single-edged blade retains its original factory edge and shows exceptional finish throughout, with the bluing still remaining on the ricasso. From there the bright blade runs all the way down to the clipped point, with no signs of reshaping, or repointing. You can still see the original factory finish cross-grain on the blade, which is a nice bonus, as a lot of blades have had this polished out over the years. This is a text book MKII blade in outstanding condition, very difficult to upgrade.

Hilt & Grips:

The wooden grip plates are in excellent condition, showing hardly any wear, with the Canadian inspection stamp on either side of the grips. One side of the pommel is clearly stamped: “Ross Rifle Co. Quebec. Patented 1907”, while the other-side shows the Government Broad Arrow, the date 9/15 , and a further Canadian inspection stamp. The rifle retaining button works perfectly, with all the metal hardware displaying its original bluing, giving that untouched, original finish.

Scabbard:

The original MKII leather scabbard is in excellent condition, and superbly made – one of the better ones you’ll find.

–  Leather condition rates 8/10 showing only minor wear

–  All stitching intact and tight

–  Bottom metal cap is present

–  Leather is stamped with further markings, including Broad Arrow (see photos)

–  The leather displays a lovely patina throughout

–  Markings to the throat of the scabbard

The bayonet fits the scabbard snugly and correctly, exactly how a matching example should.

Overall:

A truly strong example of a WW1 Canadian Ross MKII bayonet – superb blade, excellent grips, functional mechanism, and a scabbard that is far above average.

Historical Note:

Manufactured by the Ross Rifle Company, Quebec, the MKII Ross bayonet was issued during the early years of the First World War to accompany the Ross MKII and MKIII rifles. Production included multiple inspection and acceptance stages, which explains the large number of inspection stamps commonly found on these examples. These bayonets are identifiable by its single-edged, un-fullered blade, distinctive clipped point, and full leather scabbard fitted with a steel lower cap.