need info on these bayonets
hi guys found these bayonets in the estate of a gun smith I cleaned out do not have book on bayonets need one I guess. 1st one is 23 inches long with leather scabbard. marked Australia on wood grips
has letter ma over 1907 at base is 11 space 43 on opposite side of blade is xoa under an arrow on metal top of scabbard looks to be a us not sure thou. some surface rust on scabbard metal ab on guard an button. blade looks brand new sorta dull edge
2nd one is 21 inches long metal scabbard has either dm orr em wirth mabybe arrow thru it blade still has grease on it scabbard is lightly rusted wood in good condition but seams over sized small hole for barrel
thanks a lot mike
has letter ma over 1907 at base is 11 space 43 on opposite side of blade is xoa under an arrow on metal top of scabbard looks to be a us not sure thou. some surface rust on scabbard metal ab on guard an button. blade looks brand new sorta dull edge
2nd one is 21 inches long metal scabbard has either dm orr em wirth mabybe arrow thru it blade still has grease on it scabbard is lightly rusted wood in good condition but seams over sized small hole for barrel
thanks a lot mike
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Generally when you see "Country of Origin" markings on manufactured goods. It means they were imported into the U.S. for commercial sale.
If the bayonet is Australian? I don't see them marking it. If it was just going to be used by their troops.
EDIT #1,
The only lend lease SMLE's I'm familiar with. Were the Savage made No. 4's. They took a completely different bayonet, from the one shown in your photo.
EDIT #2,
This is just a guess. Your other bayonet, might be a last ditch Japanese?0 -
right that's what I thought but it has us marking would it be lend lease?? 0 -
Im thinking that the broadhead ( arrow ) means British 0 -
I could be wrong, based on what I can see in the Photos it appears to be a typical 16" Enfield Sword bayonet.
The broad arrow is British Acceptance mark (and would have been different had it been originally from Australia while the 'X' typically denotes obsolete or surplus equipment. The '43' could be a rework date with other markings denoting arsenal.
The Australia on the handle indicates commercial shipment into the US.
My guess would be a British Bayonet shipped to Australia for home use and run through an arsenal in 1943, subsequently declared obsolete and sold commercially and imported to the US.
Dan R0 -
Edit to add, the US on the scabbard could stand for "Unserviceable" another obsolete marking.
The small hole in the handle is incorrectly called an oil hole, actually it is a mud hole to allow mud/water to drain when fitting the bayonet to the rifle rather than compressing inside the handle.
Dan R0 -
I think 1st bayonet is a pattern 1907 lee enfield according to web address above other one still can not find 0
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