Enfield number 5 Mk 1 Bayonet help

[tankhunter]

You will probably find one of the reasons for the N0.5 Bayonet being in short supply is this.
The British Government has Moved forward it's Policy of Not selling Weapons Etc Onto the Civillian Market.
Yes to Forigen M.O.D Departmets, subject to the Correct Paperwork. End user Cert's Etc.
I have Handled MANY Hundereds & Hundereds of Deactivated Sterling Mk IV S.M.Gs On the Civillian Circuit. As well as sold a LOT of them Myself.
They are ALWAYS a Sterling Comercial Weapon IE: A MK IV, & NOT a British L2A3.
Easyist thing to spot is Firstly, The BRITSH Service variant Had a Mod done to strengthen the Butt at the Circular 'U' / Yoke bend near the Middle.
Secondly: The Mag Housing will Be Marked with a UE/ UF/ Etc PREFIX to the serial Number.
The STERLING COMMERCIAL will be USUALLY Marked with a KR series PREFIX to the Number & the Butt Will NOT Have the Mod Plate welded in the Above mentioned Place.

The Brit Policy is to Guillotine or Gas Axe all Smallarms Not sold out of the Country. Or the same if not sold to a Dealer Here in the UK to be subsequently Exported OUT of here.

I know of a Dealer who is a Good Friend of Mine who knows of LOADS os SLR's sold to Germany. ALL EX Brit M.O.D. They will NOT sell to him for Re-importation to the UK.
Because, there was a Proviso in the sale deal. They can buy them, but they must NOT be re-imported. If they do this, they will NEVER be allowed to buy anything from the M.O.D again!

All that being said, I have taken possesion of a GENUINE Deactivated Fazakerly Manufactured L2A3 & is UF serial Number marked!
It must have 'Got out' early in it's life, because it did NOT have the Butt Mod done to it!
(It certainly DOES now!)
It is the ONLY One I have seen in Private hands.

So, If they Cut up all the Obsolete Sterlings (Some MAY have been refurbed & gone into War Reserve) Then it stands to reason that the Bayonets as 'Weapons' MAY have also been destroyed as well.
Museums will have been offered some as the 'Norm' over here before destruction (Peter can confirm this)
The ONLY thing in quantity that HAS been released, is the webbing slings!
Even the cleaning kits are NOT about in the quantities that they should be if officially released. (Unlike the SLR Kits!)

This MAY go some way to explain the shortage in Collectors terms. Of WHY the No.5 Bayonet is not seen commonly on the Militaria Circuit.
Unlike the SLR Bayonets, Magazines, slings, Cleaning kits Etc. Which WERE Officially released onto the Civillian Market to Appropriate Licensed Dealers.

[LesterH]

Thank you for the above post. this disposal policy may explain why British Army Militaria and D/A weapons are rapidly rising in value. At a time when the Government is skint. They could sell No5 bayonets to UK dealers , for a tidy sum for each one. Instead of getting £150 a tonne scrap metal. We as British Tax payers bought this equipment. So we should be able to use it. They would get more money than scrap value for an SLR rifle or Stirling SMG if they sold them to a D/A gun dealer. My SLR cost £300 D/A and My Stirling,Stirling cost £270!
Apologies to every one for moaning.

Kind regards, Lester

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Apologies to every one for moaning.

No apologies required.
You are trying to apply common sence that you and I use every day to political decisions which by there very nature are devoid of All common sence.
I do it too. It just makes my head hurt.

[tankhunter]

The British Govermnet does not opperate on Commonsense! Never has done as far as Im aware!
As for your thought on what a waste it is to destroy anything Weapon related rather than sell it on for VERY viable returns!

They are NOT interested! If it's to do with Weapons = Cut it up. It does NOT matter how much you would get back from it finacially WHATSOEVER!

Government Logic: = Destroy ANY smallarms. & you WONT have any Crime caused through them!!!

Criminal Logic: = We will buy out of the country, Ex COMBLOC AK 47s for a Fiver each. Solution EASY!........................

I visited a HUGE Complex Shed at Donnington once in the course of an Official visit when I was on duty. Next to the main smallarms workshop, was a long hanger with twenty six foot tables in lines.
On these tables were Artillery Lugers, Colt 1911A1's, Mauser Broom handled pistole WITH wooden stocks, S&W Revolvers Etc Etc. NEW Boxed double barrel 12 Bore shotguns & the like.

I enquired what these were for. 'Destruction' I was informed.'they are a TYPICAL batch which we get fortnightly from the Police & mainly seizures in Northern Ireland'. I said, 'What about getting the Mausers Lugers Etc. All the RARE stuff sold onto Dealers & proof tested & then they are 'on the books, legal, & traceable'. The proceeds from these sales could go into Service Charities to benifit Ex Servicemen & help the charites themsleves. all good stuff'.
'Nope' I was told. 'Government policy is. Offer them to Museums Etc for free. If they already have an example of whatever is offered them. They dont need any of the same. Then what is left (Almost ALL of the Guns) is to be Cut up & put in the smelting furnace'!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I said, 'Dont they realise that important pieces if History are being vandalised here like this'? 'Yep, & they are NOT interested'............................

They also implimented the policy of Guillotining then smelting all the L4A3 & A4 7.62mm Converted Bren LMGs as well. This would explain the SERIOUS shortage of these Historic weapons on the Civvy Deact Market!

Just about sums up what I have said previously, dosent it?..........................

[peregrinvs]

The ONLY thing in quantity that HAS been released, is the webbing slings!

I had noticed there seem to be a lot of unissued ones kicking about at the moment. Sadly far more than there are guns to put them on.

Although this isn't a problem for one 'enterprising' eBay seller...

WW2 1941 BRITISH MK 2 BREN GUN M.E.C.O 1944 WEBB SLING | eBay

[tankhunter]

How would you discribe a 'LOT' pereginvs?

The link to the 'Enterprising Seller' also shows quite few inaccurate discriptions of his (Mainly Government surplus) listings! Cevat Emptor = Let the Buyer Beware!......

[peregrinvs]

How would you discribe a 'LOT' pereginvs?

As in there's no current lack of them for sale on eBay / online / at militaria fairs. I probably ought to get one whilst this is still the case.

[Aragorn243]

Well after watching one quickly rise to over $350 on ebay this week and still not sold, I found a repro at a gun show today and purchased it for the tidy sum of $20. That was the selling point. Dealer assured me it would fit on my rifle (it didn't) but for that minimal price I figured I'd take a chance so I can at least show people what they look like.

After about 15 minutes with a piece of sandpaper and a 3/8 inch drill bit, it now fits perfectly on my rifle. I spent about another 40 minutes sanding off all the finish from the blade and neatening it up and am currently stripping the finish off the handle. For $20, it looks extremely good. It will do until I can luck across one at a yard sale or find someone interested in trading for my 1918 marked 1917 US Enfiled bayonet.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

I have been watching every one on e-bay. Without loads of cash and sniping software I do not think we are going to get one there. The things are selling for slightly less than I paid for each of my two No 5 Mk 1s. That being said they both really need a pointy end so the search continues.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

My search will not end here.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...:B:WNA:US:1123