20 Sep. 2007
1pm
That's a fascinating part. Seems to be designed for the pattern 1888 bayonet, which would be strange on a Belgian military part.
DD is right: it looks to be made for a Martini-Enfield of some sort. However, it is not the same as the equivalent parts on the two sorts of Martini-Enfield designed for the pattern 1888 bayonet.
The Martini-Enfield artillery carbine series (and the corresponding Martini-Metford arty. carbine series), used a fully encircling noseband with a large, square cut-out on the underside, which, when swivelled around to be on the top, slid over the front sight.
A few Martini-Enfield rifles were made for the P-88 bayonet but they, once again, had an encircling noseband (though with a smaller and differently shaped cut-out for the front sight). See the attached picture of a Martini-Enfield rifle made for the P-88 bayonet.
My best guess on this one — and it is just a guess — is that it is for a commercial .303 Martini of some sort (perhaps Belgian, but made for a British market), loosely patterned on, but not identical to, either the carbine or rifle types I have described above.
Does your noseband have an British military inspection marks on it? If no, then I’m pretty sure my guess is a good one. If yes, then it’s back to the drawing board.
Coggansfield