Printable View
Several years ago, I purchased a 1944 oil-soaked, wire-brushed, dark-bore, "ishy" screw No4Mk1, condition somewhat less than advertised. I assume the M on the receiver socket stands for Maltby. It came with a cruciform bayonet marked G M R, No4Mk1, S M. The stylized M on the rifle and in G M R on the bayonet look the same. Does the M stand for Maltby? Someone told me the cruciform bayonet was a rare variant and fairly valuable. Is that true?
The SM is for Singer Machines the only maker of cruciform bayonets in WW2.
Haven't seen any sell for a while but I would think $100 plus is about right.
Thanks for the information. Would the M that is between the G and the R on the bayonet be linked to the M on the rifle? Would Singer Machines have designated a bayonet for Maltby by marking it with a stlyized M?
The SM bayonets were made for all No4's and not fixed to a specific arsenal. Although always called "rare" a huge number of these blades were actually made and production continued well after the MkII was introduced. You have to be very carefull of fakes as they are rampant,
I don't think this one is a fake as it came through one of the large C&R purveyors. I am still wondering if the M on the rifle and the M on the bayonet are indicative of Maltby.
Mudhut - are you sure it's an "M" and not a royal crown with GR on either side of it? That would make the GR stand for Georgius Rex or King George VI the British monarch at the time the bayonet`was made
Rerettably, I believe you are right. Ignorance was bliss! I got the magnifiying glass out and there is a small spud on top of the M. But, it is good to know what it is and who made the bayonet. Thank you.
Amazing what time does, we were buying these cruciform Enfield bayonets for 10 cents apiece in 1962 at a surplus store in Santa Rosa, CA. He had a 30 gal barrel of them! Should bought more! :banghead:Quote:
Originally Posted by Amatikulu
In NZ Mk.1 bayonets go for between NZ$250 - NZ$450ea. (US$180 - US$330), now that hurts!
The SM actually stand for SINGER MANUFACTURING as in Singer Sewing Machines. They made our first production Sten Guns too. Based in Glasgow, Scotland. Not a wise move to let the Jocks make small arms because for 30 years after the war, Sten guns from Singer featured big in the gangland armouries there!