Did Long Branch make no9 bayonets?

[Time Bandit]

It looks like an inspection marking of a Poole made example, 'F5' over a 'B'.

Information

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[Flying10uk]

I recently did pick up a non U.K. made No9 bayonet made by the Pakistan Ordinance Factory. As far as I'm aware the only other country to produce a version, partly of it's own design, was South Africa which I also have an example. I was surprised to see a broad arrow marking on the Pakistan No9 bayonet socket; perhaps they had some surplus British sockets???

[green]

POF also marked their G3 bts with a broad arrow.

[old-smithy]

The Italians made one as well, but these are very rare and hard to come by. it has a much longer blade from an 1891 I think, there is also another Pakistani one made before the POF stamp, so these would have been made just after the partition

[Peter Laidler]

Was that Military Industries Ltd? They were buying up quantities of Bedford trucks and spare parts from UK Ordnance stockpiles during the drawdown from the Far East

[old-smithy]

Peter same company they made 19807's in WWII as well, In fact it was designated as unknown till I linked the 07 and No9, it was an Indian production facility until the partition and then became Pakistani and then got renamed POF, not a common one at all, the Italian was the only one I know of that I dotn have other than trials etc, and I have a lot of them as repros from a guy in the UK who made some interesting replica's

[Flying10uk]

Here is my Pakistan No9 bayonet. The markings are very feint and I almost doubted myself if it actually was Pakistani but, having digitally photographed it, it is. Sadly it came with out a scabbard. There appears to be a small Pakistan emblem also on the blade together with the remains of green paint.

[Lee Enfield]

Did Long Branch make the no9 bayonet? I have one on my radar with a LB stamp and I've never heard/read of them making any.
Thanks.

I don't believe that LB ever manufactured No9 bayos.

No7 bayos is a possibility for the EM2 rifle... only toolroom quantities though if it happened...

Small Arms Limited and Canadian Arsenals Limited (operating Long Branch Arsenal facility) manufactured No4MkII bayonets into the 1950s.

I've never seen a No4MkI bayo manufactured at Long Branch, but I suppose they must have built at least tool room MkI bayonets as everything else about the 1941 rifles is straight out of the 1930s trials rifle drawings - except the cut off slot.

The wood and bands & sight guard all reflected the original pattern...

[Flying10uk]

Thank-you for bringing up Canadian Arsenals, Lee Enfield, which has reminded me of something. It was recently suggested to me that it is possible to have the Canadian Arsenals mark and the Long Branch mark on the same bayonet which I doubt. I think that someone is mistaking a Canadian acceptance mark (arrow within C) for a Canadian Arsenals (A within C) and if the marking is lightly struck this is understandable. Has anyone defiantly seen the Canadian Arsenal/Long Branch markings on the same bayonet, please, did it happen???

[Lee Enfield]

Thank-you for bringing up Canadian Arsenals, Lee Enfield, which has reminded me of something. It was recently suggested to me that it is possible to have the Canadian Arsenals mark and the Long Branch mark on the same bayonet which I doubt. I think that someone is mistaking a Canadian acceptance mark (arrow within C) for a Canadian Arsenals (A within C) and if the marking is lightly struck this is understandable. Has anyone defiantly seen the Canadian Arsenal/Long Branch markings on the same bayonet, please, did it happen???

I would think that it is possible on separate component parts...the block and the latch parts for instance.

I have seen ONE SINGLE FTR'd Singer MFG No4MkI bayonet, and a MkI rear sight with mixed parts (Savage with EFD marked componants)

I did a study of 1950 LB rifles a few years ago and there was an overlap in bands and stock component markings and finish (Blueing/Phosphate). Presumably where they used up stocked NOS components from the war and converted over to new production.