Original British WWI 1912 Dated Royal Fusiliers Bearskin Busby by J Compton & Sons - Size 7 Francotte-Martini Rifles & Parts This is the first smatchet

This is the first smatchet that we have offered for sale

This indicates manufacture by Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG

but not all makers put their markings on that location

They arrived home from Gibraltar in early February 1900

blued lever

Original British WWI 1912 Dated Royal Fusiliers Bearskin Busby by J Compton & Sons - Size 7 Francotte-Martini Rifles & Parts This is the first smatchetOriginal Item: Only One available. One of Great Britain's oldest regiments, the Royal Fusiliers were raised in 1685 as the "Ordnance Regiment", to combat the the bastard son of King Charles the Second, the Duke of Monmouth who was later beheaded after the Battle of Sedgemoor. The regiment was redesignated as the 7th Regiment of Foot (Royal Fusiliers) in 1751, and served throughout the Wars of the Spanish Succession and by 1773 was posted to Canada.