Printable View
While browsing the net I came across this No4 MK2* pig sticker bayonet described as being a MK1. I assume that this is because the scabbard throat-piece has MK1 marked on it. The marking on the scabbard throat-piece only refers to the throat-piece, for anyone who doesn't know. i.e. it's a MK1 throat piece. In this instance the scabbard body is also MK1 but the bayonet body is MK2*, as stated above.
WWII British Spike Bayonet & Scabbard - Militaria
$15 bayonet in the states.
That would translate to $65 here in Canada, no one would pay that.
I know two places that have boxes of spike bayonets. I purchased a couple from them. $10 each. I never really got into each and every manufacturer or I might have bought more. Average seems to be around $15 though. Exception being the cruciform and of course the fake cruciform, pointed one of them out at a gun show. Owner didn't want to hear it.
There are multiple variations in markings of the various makes of MK2 and MK2* pig sticker bayonet and I do have quite a number in my collection but none of them were very expensive, exception being the MK1, because there are still significant numbers around and millions were made during WW2. Genuine MK1 cruciform bayos do seem to turn up over here fairly regularly and when you look at the genuine article you notice how the shape and form of the cruciform has been nicely machined, with care and precision.
One example of the MK2 pig sticker that I haven't got but which I would like is the post WW2 manufactured MK2 version made in Belgium and these will have a "Bg" marking on the socket. I have only ever seen one example of this particular pig sticker, owned by a fellow collector and renowned bayonet expert.
I believe the "blued all over" cruciform MK1, seen here, to have been refinished at some point post WW2.
I knew someone who had, literally, and I kid you not, two 44 gallon barrels FULL of scabbards of EVERY kind ever dreamed up by man. There were steel mouthpieces, alloy mouthpieces and every other variation................ We used to indent for these scabbards by the 50 or so via the control and planning people at Ordnance to use for the frog buttons that would be skimmed down and used to repair No5/7/9/L1A1 etc etc scabbards that would come in missing them during the WORP programmes. An easy fix virtually for free.
I often used to wonder what on earth possessed the MoS to stick to the tapered format of the scabbards. Parallel tube would have sufficed - the mouthpiece and spring would still fit, the machined ball at the end could have been replaced by a punched steel cup and..................... I mean.............. xxxxxxg hell...., they all started as parallel tubes in any case!
hmm this is really getting me confused..
I've been through that with hooked quillion 1907 blades...Quote:
Originally Posted by Aragorn243
Welcome Zilk, why so confused?Quote:
Originally Posted by zilk
I do have a few MK2 steel scabbards which are supposedly rare and as can be seen, on the picture, these have parallel sides. They still have the MK1 mouth piece as per the MK1 tapered scabbard body. One wonders why this design didn't catch on, for the sake of manufacture, rather than the tapered design? Some dealers tend to try to charge a premium if the pig sticker bayo has a MK2 steel scabbard with it.
Here you go...you've seen two now. Unfortunately it's missing its matching numbered scabbard. They are marked as MK2 but are actually 2 piece, seperate blade and socket so I guess they should technically be a MKII*.Quote:
One example of the MK2 pig sticker that I haven't got but which I would like is the post WW2 manufactured MK2 version made in Belgium and these will have a "Bg" marking on the socket. I have only ever seen one example of this particular pig sticker, owned by a fellow collector and renowned bayonet expert.
Mike, did you find your Belgium made pig sticker mixed in with other British/Canadian/U.S. made pig stickers and you just happened to notice it or was it advertised as being Belgium made? Should the Belgium made scabbards also have the Bg marking or were they identified by another marking?
I found it at a local auction a few years back, it was described as a Belgium made one in the catalogue. I paid £30 for it which at the time (2014) was expensive for a No.4 spike but I figured it was going to be my only chance of getting one so it was worth it, never seen one for sale since so it was the right choice.Quote:
Originally Posted by Flying10uk
The scabbards are also Bg marked and have a matching serial number to the bayonet. Mine is missing the matching scabbard unfortunately and came with a std UK type MK1 scabbard.