Lithgow HT Sniper Bayonet

[BradJ]

Slightly different question but along the same lines. Does anyone have any documented proof of the Owen bayonets being issued with the Aussie No1 Mk3* rifles, such as in Korea perhaps? I'm sure I read somewhere that they did but can't for the life of me find it. If they did issue them with the standard rifle, it would make perfect sense for them to be issued with the HT rifles.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Lithy]

In Skennerton and Richardson's British and Commonwealth Bayonets there was a reference to Owen bayonets being issued to riflemen in Korea.

[Melanie_Daniels]

The joke with the so-called Owen-bayonet (also fitting for the SMLE) is, that is first was made in 1943. The attachment for this bayonet on the Owen first was made in the second half of 1944. So this bayonets first weré made for the SMLE - the first really Owen-Byonet is shown on the first photo below.

And the second photo below shows, that Aussies had no problems with mixing the different bayonets and handguns: Four Owens - two with the short bayonet, two with the long bayonet. Some discussions seam to be really German.

Attachment 112291Attachment 112292

[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

[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.........