Bayonets were fixed early on, in 1969-70 but not in my time. The powers that be had the practice stopped so far as I know and recall, they weren't even carried. Over to you Gil and tankie for that answer?
Oh, yes...... I see now. But not being a computer teccie I didn't get the clue in the name. Like I said, we didn't have them here except at Shrivenham/Cranfield. As for the increased accuracy when shortened, I accept that our accuracy tests were more scientific in test ranges and laboratories rather than field tests and then only using NATO RG ball ammo.
As a matter of interest and as a bit of an aside to the subject, even the weight differences between the original flash eliminator (the f/e) and the proposed strengthened designs made a difference to the accuracy patterns formed with the control sample rifles. The weight of a redesign had to be very similar to be acceptable otherwise a revamped rearsight had to be considered as part of the package so that........ anyway....... Anyone care to tell us the weights of a bare 5 and 3 fluted f/e?