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Contributing Member
Bitzer Slazenger bayonet?
I picked up a Slazenger bayonet years ago to add to my weapons collection and never realy had a good look at it. As I have recently bought a couple of Lithgows I figured it was time to check it and found it had no less than 3 dates stamped on it: '46 on the pommel, '44 on the grip, and '42 on the ricasso. The locket, body, and chape of the scabbard are unmarked but in excellent condition as is the blade. Is this unusual for Slazenger bayonets?
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08-19-2023 04:05 PM
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Advisory Panel
The blade mark would be manufacture and the pommel would be post war rebuild of everything to lay up in storage. Changing the grip scales would just be standard for anything with any damage at all. Are you sure there's no marking along the stitching on the back of the scabbard leather? Mangrovite maybe?
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Contributing Member
The blade mark would be manufacture and the pommel would be post war rebuild of everything to lay up in storage. Changing the grip scales would just be standard for anything with any damage at all. Are you sure there's no marking along the stitching on the back of the scabbard leather? Mangrovite maybe?
My eyes are getting bad. Yes, Mangrovite is marked right beside the stitching.
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Advisory Panel
A very clean and now very expensive bayonet.
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Contributing Member
MA = This example was produced in March 1942 at the Australian
Small Arms Factory, Lithgow.
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Contributing Member
Originally Posted by
Sapper740
'46 on the pommel,
Is it a date or inspector mark?
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Advisory Panel
Originally Posted by
Flying10uk
Is it a date
I think so...with the typical marking.
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Contributing Member
Been through re-issue '46 & '69 they normally stamp them on the blade near the cross piece usually on the original dated side but have seen them on the reverse side, Never say never with Enfields
Re-issued is they go through the bayonet to ensure the blade is serviceable not bent/badly chipped or a rusted hulk, scales are in good cond (Grips), screws/nuts are present and tight, the catch works as it should and there you go back to service ready to prick & poke things!
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Legacy Member
As cinders says it has been back through the factory for a rebuild by those dates so is not a bitza just a well used piece of kit kept in good order.
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