SA 80 Bayonet

[green]

Noticed some dealers now have British SA 80 bayonets in stock. Some dealer list them as reproduction others as genuine. Are the the real deal or repros?

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[Roy W]

I suppose it depends on which one you are referring to?

[Flying10uk]

Noticed some dealers now have British SA 80 bayonets in stock. Some dealer list them as reproduction others as genuine.

I asked WWA this specific question, a while back, and they told me that their examples were "unissued genuine" bayonets. I didn't get into the "hows and whys" of how they managed to get hold of them because it wasn't really any of my business.

B134 British SA80 Rifle Bayonet

[tankhunter]

There are a LOT of SA80 Bayonets on the Market. Due in the main to stocks being disposed of when Enfield Lock closed.

A HUGE amount of these were in the unfinished state. That is to say in the Main, the axis pin holes for the Retention catch were Not drilled.

It was a Very simple matter, to post release. Drill these holes, locate or cast some catches.
Select a suitable axis pin & operating spring. & then assemble.

The scabbards' too, are feely available, on 'That' Auction site.

Les at WWA Arms did purchase a lot of surplus OLD stocks from the MOD also. These had the initial pattern ANGLED wire cutter bodies on the scabbard ends.
These were soon replaced in service, as there were a few 'issues' with them!.....

It may well have been cost effective in the MOD mind, to dispose of these & purchase new Bayonets complete. Rather than Modify the entire old stock holdings?
After all, one thing that Has never changed in the Military. Is saving Pennies, & wasting THOUSANDS!...……..

[skiprat]

I believe WWA also got many blades straight from the factory even before the MOD got their hands on them, ( from the end of the production run)
I have seen a few reproduction fittings for the original scabbards (the wire cutter)

[green]

Enfield closed in 1988 and the SA80 bt did not appear in any numbers on the market until recently so I cannot see any connection.

[Roy W]

The Bayonets were made by sub contractors. A great deal were made by TRUCAST in Ryde, on the Isle of Wight, a subsiduary of VICKERS.

They were investment cast on trees of about 6 at a time. How many other manufacturers there were I am not sure.

[Flying10uk]

I still hope to, one day find "the holy grail" of SA80 bayonets, the early one with the bottle opener

[tankhunter]

Enfield closed in 1988 and the SA80 bt did not appear in any numbers on the market until recently so I cannot see any connection.

Approximately 30 brand new complete L85A1's were purchased direct from Royal Ordnance Plc by Helstons in Cornwall. They were Deactivated to Old Spec then & Certified by the Proof house.
I Bought three at the time & sold them on. The sales of further stocks were stopped by RO. As the MOD 'Complained' about them being sold on the Civy circuit.
RO pointed out that they were a Plc (Public Limited company) & as such, could sell thier own products to whom they like. (Legal Sales of course!) The MOD were 'unhappy' about this.
& Pressured RO by stating they would cancel the contract & source a weapon system elsewhere if they continued up this path!

So,.....No More complete L85's were sold in the UK. Except to the MOD. & Marconi for conversion into SAT Trainers.
The Bayonets however, as has been posted by Roy W. Were also manufactured by a few other contractors.
& '2nds' & left over production overruns. Were sold/ disposed of, how they wished.

---------- Post added at 03:44 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:38 AM ----------

I still hope to, one day find "the holy grail" of SA80 bayonets, the early one with the bottle opener

The Troop trials versions also had a serial number ETCHED into one of the fullers on the L3 Bayonets. They Were occasionally available on the collectors circuit.
But I have not seen one for many years now. I assume they reside & stay in Private collections?

[Peter Laidler]

A recent Crown Court case has broken ALL the myths and misunderstandings about SA80's and variations in private hands. HUNDREDS were disposed of from Royal Ordnance/BAe, a private company WHO SIMPLY MADE THEM ON CONTRACT to the MoD. Sold to, whoever wanted to purchase 10 at a time. In spite of evidence stacked up against them right from he word go, the CPS chose to ignore it. Nobody was able to show which ones were ex Mod and which ones were sold commercially, in the UK, Europe and Canada. RO even disposed of unnumbered housings according to testimony heard at the hearings

Marconi and Ferranti made hundreds into laser trainers as did a small electronics Co in the US (who were they Brian?). These were never firearms as defined in law

And while we're here, added a bit later, if you have an SA80 variant of any sort, regardless of its provenance, your bills of sale or receipts, the mickey mouse non home office police WILL take it off you and you won't get it back