Siam - Type 45 (1903) Bayonet

Knife bayonet for use on the 8 mm. Siamese Mauser Type 45 rifle.
This example has original finish. . The grip scales are secured with tiny screws set in escutcheons, similar to those found on early Japanese Type 30 bayonets. However, this is the result of a rework process done in Siamese arsenals.

This scabbard appears to be original, never having been disassembled or refinished.

The characters on the ricasso say "R.S. 121" in Siamese, which represents the year 1903 on the Gregorian (western) Calendar. "R.S. 121" is an abbreviation for Rattanakosin Sok 121. This refers to the 121st year of the Rattanakosin Era, which began with the founding of Bangkok in 1782. The bayonet was re-designated Type 45 when Siam adopted the Buddhist Calendar in 1913. Bhuddist Year 2445 corresponds to 1903.

40,000 Type 45 rifles and bayonets were produced in1903 at the Imperial Japanese Army Arsenal at Tokyo (Kowisikawa). Siam wanted Mauser to produce them, however, Mauser was inundated with large rifle orders for the German and Turkish governments, so licensed production in Japan.

The Siamese Type 45 bayonet was the first Mauser bayonet to conform to what was known in the west as the M1904. Because of this, the Siamese Type 45 bayonet and M1904 Mauser bayonet are interchangeable.