A question for the Advanced Bayonet Collector regarding FAL Bayonts

[Peter Laidler]

We have got an L1A1 bayonet at work without grips and the old full length protruding catch The rear end is marked D-arrow-D with a small figure 8 and the same figure 8 is marked on the left side of the handle under the grip (no grips so number is visible) What is different is that there is a clearance hole all the way through the pommell exactly as per the No1 bayonet. This hole hasn't been done after final assembly because the end of the handle intrudes into the first 1/3rd of the hole. That is to say that the REAR 2/3rds of the hole is clear, right through and would let dust and dirt out but the front third is blocked at the centre by the handle part of the blade.

The blade is the Australian/Canadian form, rounded instead of square cut fuller and the D-D is the Australian type WD mark.

Unless you were actually looking, it looks just the same as any other bog standard Pom, Can or Aust L1A1 bayonet.

Anyone got any ideas. It can't be some 'get rid of the dust/dirt that stopping it fixing to the flash eliminator trial' can it? I ask, because we did a series of similar trials on the SA80 rifle to stop the build-up of crud behind the trigger. Apparently some soldiers found that being unable to squeeze the trigger because of a build up of mud and snow behind it was a bit of a hindrance on operations.............

Any of your papers refer to this KtK? Seen anything like it you bayontee forumers out there?