Bayonet Bonanza

[Peter Laidler]

The 3M is just a badly hit SM or a chipped stamp. If you bead blasted and phosphated the Mk2 bayonets (not the Mk2*'s) you could see where the hardening and tempering worked its way from the blade onto the socket part. So stamping the socket, which some nations were prone to do, could cause havoc to your number/letter stamps

[Aragorn243]

Could you elaborate on this, please?

I have a Singer bayonet that was reworked and restamped in the 1950's. Singer stamp removed, new model numbers stamped on. There's a thread about it on here somewhere. Graham confirmed what it is, that it is legit. When he wrote his book there were 7 known to exist but by the time I found this one and asked him, he was aware of 12.

[Flying10uk]

I think that I may have a reworked cruciform No4 Mk1 that Graham may not be aware of because I sourced it in Italy. I am sure that it is genuine but it appears to have been refinished and has different markings to the other example which I have which I believe to be completely original. I will try to remember to take some photos to post here over the weekend.

[Aragorn243]

Here is the original thread with photos.

https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=37884

[Flying10uk]

Here are my 2 cruciform No4 MK1 bayonets which I have. The example which is blued all over I think/assume has been refinished and I had thought, from memory, that it had different markings. On inspection it appears to have retained the original markings. The other example, with a bright blade, I assume to be in it's original issue state.

Both bayonets came with/have just the standard No4 scabbard which I haven't bothered to photograph.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

That is a couple of very nice swine stabbers.

[Flying10uk]

Here are my No5 & No7 bayonets and both have the standard No5 scabbard which I haven't bothered to photograph. Sorry the pictures do not run in the order in which I intended them to or in which I up-loaded them but it should be fairly obvious which is which bayonet.

It may be a stupid question but does anyone know what the hole of what looks like around 1/4" diameter at the bottom of the cross guard of both bayonets is actually intended for? I will post a picture in a follow up post shortly. Thanks.

[Flying10uk]

Here are the cross guards of my No5 & No7 bayonets which I mentioned in my last post in connection with the small hole at the bottom of around 1/4" diameter.

[CINDERS]

Nice bayonets Flying10uk

[Peter Laidler]

If anyone tells you that it was for locating a special SAS/Commando/SOE/Mossad/KGB/etc etc grip guard, don't believe them. It was either for lightness, simply ease of manufacture or a locator used during manufacture. But during a trip to the bead blasting, phos tank and paint booth/oven it was used to hang the bayonet from the zillions of wire loops