Lithgow1907 Patt bayonet

[cga00]

Not a badge as such, but I was wondering if an Australian member might know the answer to this query.
I have a 1907 Patt Lithgow bayonet with a hooked quillion. On one side of the quillion is stamped 3.M.D 25629.
My Question is - Does the 3.M.D refer to the unit it was issued to, if so which unit?
Thanks in advance.

[Myles]

Hello

3.M.D. is the 3rd Military District (Eastern Command, Victoria),
Ref: Ian D Skennerton, The Broad Arrow

[cga00]

Myles, I knew somebody would have an answer.
Thanks for taking the time to reply,
Craig

[MartinRF]

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...an old thread, I know, but here are my P'07 bayonets issued to the A.I.F., though only the one was made at Lithgow...all have numbers stamped upon them - similarly marked bayonets to British army units are rare and very expensive...the one with matching scabbard number is prefixed by a "V", which has puzzled me ever since I bought it in 1979 at the Melbourne Gun Show, then held at the Coburg Town Hall...(8{

[fairlie63]

Is the 'V' marked bayonet dated?

If so prior to 1911 it may stand for Commonwealth Military Forces Victoria, or District Command, Victoria.

The military districts in Australia were not numbered until 1911.

Keith

[MartinRF]

...yep, '09 marked by MOLE...(8{

[fromelles]

Originally Posted by fairlie63

prior to 1911 it may stand for Commonwealth Military Forces Victoria, or District Command, Victoria.

The military districts in Australia were not numbered until 1911.

The change from marking arms with the State letter/s to that of the Military District (MD) took place in late 1913.

I don't have my references to hand right now, however I'll post once I track them down.

Dan

[MartinRF]

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...found that I had another one in the collection - numbered and marked: '1MD' on the cross-guard, but nothing on the scabbard...(8{

[MartinRF]

...here is my latest acquisition - another 1915 Lithgow, with the hooked-quillon intact...it joins a small, but perfectly formed, collection of 1907 bayonets...all have either 1 MD, 2 MD, 3 MD, or pre-M.D., markings showing their service within the Australian military forces...the shape of the quillon differs between British and Australian manufacturing, as does the hand stamping upon the ricasso...(8{
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[fromelles]

I had forgotten about this thread. Here is that reference I mentioned back in 2021...

The move from marking the State abbreviation to that of the Military District (MD) took effect in late 1913. The following attachments are taken directly from Standing Orders for the Equipment of the Commonwealth Military Forces - Part I - General (Department of Defence, 1909) and include this Military Order (MO) amendment.

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