This Sanderson dated 3 15 has the large letters AUSTRALIA stamp on on of the grips - what was the reason ? scabbard is dated '16 Attachment 20203Attachment 20202Attachment 20201
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This Sanderson dated 3 15 has the large letters AUSTRALIA stamp on on of the grips - what was the reason ? scabbard is dated '16 Attachment 20203Attachment 20202Attachment 20201
It's a British made bayonet that has found its way into the Australian ordnance system and has been arsenal refurbished in Australia. I have a WWI Wilkinson P1907 that has been refurbished to mint condition with a pair of 'AUSTRALIA' marked grips. I think it also has an Australian scabbard and other than the blade, the metal is parkerized. I think it may be a post-WWII thing as I have a 1943 Lithgow Bren gun FTR'd in December 1950 that not dissimilarly has been fully parkerized plus new woodwork fitted.
Parkerising of the Australian blades seems to have been done for use in Korea, and the Australian grips may be replacements by a previous owner/dealer as loose ones seemed to be very common for while
US import regulations at the time the bayonets were imported from Australia required that the items be marked as to country of origin. You wil also see No.1 rifles with the receiver ring marked England.
There are a lot of new grip panels floating about stamped, Slaz 1942. These were originaly intended for the Owen SMG Bayonet. BUT, the grips also fit 1907 patt Bayonets.......
Maybe because they were also made for the P1907 bayonets that Lithgow were still making at that time (during WW2)Quote:
Originally Posted by tankhunter
SLAZ equates to Slazenger, the company that had been contracted to supply Lithgow with the bayonet furniture (amongst other components)