Lithgow HT Sniper Bayonet

[muz303]

I've had this discussion with a collector a number of years ago and kept a copy of the link from Ian's website:

New records discovered at the S.A.F. Lithgow Museum...
The Australian machete bayonet was originally intended for the new No.1 Mk III* H.T. sniper rifle! Probably as a tool rather than to bayonet charging Japs with a sniper rifle.
Notes on conversation with Lieut. Pyke, 24th Nov. 1943...
Regarding the inquiry for 3,000 short heavy barrels for sniper rifle conversion. A firm in Melbourne is making the mount to hold the telescope, Lithgow will assemble them to the rifle. The M.G.O. is having Machetes made for use with these rifles, they require pommel and crosspiece fittings assembled to them similar to the operations on our present bayonet. To see if this work can be performed by us, they are forwarding a sample Blade very shortly. We are to then see whether we can assemble the Pommel and modified Crosspiece and finish machine similar to the Bayonet. We will need to supply wooden grips, screws and nuts for securing same to Machete'.

Early machete bayonets were profiled on Bren equipment at Lithgow; bayonet production was at Orange by this stage. The run of Machete bayonets, approved in April 1944 for Airborne troops and re-designated Bayonet 'Parachutist' in 1946, was probably at Orange. Many were destroyed although some sold surplus in the 1960's. A.I.A. had produced a new model as well.

http://www.enfieldcollector.com/archive.html

Hope this helps.

[browningautorifle]

The Lee Enfield story and two of his smaller bayonet identification books that I guess you wouldn't expect to find that info in. I was surprised I couldn't find anything in the Lee Enfield story...

which of his books you looked in

[martins8589]

I've had this discussion with a collector a number of years ago and kept a copy of the link from Ian's website:

New records discovered at the S.A.F. Lithgow Museum...
The Australian machete bayonet was originally intended for the new No.1 Mk III* H.T. sniper rifle! Probably as a tool rather than to bayonet charging Japs with a sniper rifle.
Notes on conversation with Lieut. Pyke, 24th Nov. 1943...
Regarding the inquiry for 3,000 short heavy barrels for sniper rifle conversion. A firm in Melbourne is making the mount to hold the telescope, Lithgow will assemble them to the rifle. The M.G.O. is having Machetes made for use with these rifles, they require pommel and crosspiece fittings assembled to them similar to the operations on our present bayonet. To see if this work can be performed by us, they are forwarding a sample Blade very shortly. We are to then see whether we can assemble the Pommel and modified Crosspiece and finish machine similar to the Bayonet. We will need to supply wooden grips, screws and nuts for securing same to Machete'.

Early machete bayonets were profiled on Bren equipment at Lithgow; bayonet production was at Orange by this stage. The run of Machete bayonets, approved in April 1944 for Airborne troops and re-designated Bayonet 'Parachutist' in 1946, was probably at Orange. Many were destroyed although some sold surplus in the 1960's. A.I.A. had produced a new model as well.

http://www.enfieldcollector.com/archive.html

Hope this helps.

Awesome Muz, thankyou.

[Melanie_Daniels]

I knew that I somewhere saw a photo of a Sinper with bayonet - and now I found it again:

[Bruce_in_Oz]

Not really a bayonet guy, however, my reading of the drawings, etc, is this:

The "Machete" bayonet was officially called the "Bayonet, Parachutist' and was originally intended for the "Rifle, Intermediate", also known unofficially as the "Shortened and Lightened"; basically a shortened (20 inch barrel) No1 with a standard nosecap. These were proposed for issue to the developing Australian airborne forces in WW2. The "lopped" Patt. '07 was also proposed and was snapped up as a "good idea' as a bayonet for the Own .

"Purpose-made" shortened '07s were also made for the same purpose.

A give-away that the "Bayonet, Parachutist" was made for the No.1 rifle style nose cap, (as fitted to the "Rifle, Intermediate"), is the simple fact that the top of the blade would become an embarrassment if fitted to an Owen (Mk 1/2, etc, because it lines up nicely with the bore. Fitted onto a No1 style nose cap, the blade stays well clear of the bore line.

Given the minuscule numbers of both the Rifle, Intermediate, and Bayonet, Parachutist made, they essentially fall into the "experimental" category. This fate also befell the No, 6 Carbine series (and bayonets) . The bayonets for the No.6 carbines took the hilt and properly-ground blade of the "Intermediate", short '07 bayonet and grafted on a new quillon that would fit the conical, sort-of No.5-looking flash hider. The serial number range is an additional giveaway.

I know of NO GENUINE examples or even drawings of a "Machete" blade fitted for a No 6 Carbine. Can honestly say I have never seen a fake one, either, but one will probably turn up eventually.

I'm sure some enterprising individual could craft one, but.........