Bren Magazine Fillers

[tankhunter]

Yep...... there was an DCI to the effect that the bottle opener was to be ground off all of those that remained. Most of those at work showed grinding signs of having been removed. I understand that a huge batch that came onto the market were rejected by the MoD due to metallurgy problems. Metallurgy is always a bit of a problem with a one-piece bayonet such as the SA80 type.

Yes this is true with a bayonet like the L1A3 that is manufactured from a CASTING. But FN seem to have overcome this with the Socket bayonet Type C for the FAL. It is ground/machined to blade profile. I cannot state for certain if they were castings/forgings to begin with. But most certainly finished by machining/grinding the blade.

They appear to provide Sterling Service, & I have never seen a bent or snapped blade from one of these. Unlike the Early SA80 L1A3' production. Which BENT fairly easily!!!!......

[Peter Laidler]

....... and the first 1" of the tip constantly broke off as they were left too brittle.

[browningautorifle]

click in and push back 32 times........ takes about 30 grief-free seconds.

And could be carried on any man at any time.

[tankhunter]

....... and the first 1" of the tip constantly broke off as they were left too brittle.

NEVER encountered that Pete. But The same situation has been experienced by Me with L1A3 Bayonets during the Odd unit inspection. I suspect down to a particular 'Crunchie', who
abused the weapon. Using it as a tool to force something open/off with!......

The 'Usual' Procedure, of quickly resheathing the Bayonet. & Handing back into the Armoury after an exercise, & say 'Nowt' to the arms storeman.
Easily effected, as you know only too well. The Poor old Arms Storeman, was inundated with rifles, SMGs. LMGs Magazines, etc & their varying Appurtences. all being handed back in by each rifle company/Squadron member. In a LARGE line of Impatient 'Customers', all wanting to get in the showers for an eagerly awaited clean up!!!!

The overburdened Arms Storeman would NOT possible have had time to inspect each bayonet as it was handed in with all the other items. & so, was easily slipped back in. Without anyone knowing it might have been damaged!.....................Until the unit Armourer did his Rounds/Inspections within the unit later on!............................

[Peter Laidler]

There was a DCI about the breaking off tips Tankie. Blamed initially on the crunchies* dropping them into the floor boards or stabbing into wood and twisting them out again. This was disputed and the metallurgy spec was altered. After all, there SHOULD be a bit of flex. I seem to recall that Ensci was involved in this investigation at Enfield or Shriv.

*Crunchies..... don't know why I still use this. Was used in Australia for the Nasho's in the Infantry Battalions who came to us with studded ammo boots.

[Flying10uk]

Am I correct in thinking that the SA80 bayonet starts off life as a cast blank before being machined or is it a drop forged blank, please?

[Peter Laidler]

Castings according to Steve Raw but seem to recall that Nottinghams out sourced batches were drops. Feel free to correct or elaborate

[Flying10uk]

One of the complaints with the SA80 bayonet which I've heard mentioned several times is that they have a tendency to break. Is this a significant problem? A drop forged blank would produce a massively stronger bayonet.

[Peter Laidler]

It's not the strength alone that is needed, it's the flexibility of the blade part and the tempering. The manufacturers also said that embrittlement caused by subsequent parkerising/phosphating was part of the problem too. Quite how was never explained to me beyond a cursory catch-all '.....it's just one of those things me old son that's too technical for you REME types.....' But the low VAOS price seemed to cover all the bases. Some of the 'fingers' that make up the grip also used to break away and bend upwards slightly at the front just like the early L1A1 flash eliminators.

I had/was asked to drill and tap 6 or so nickel plated bayonets for various wall shields at the Infantry Directorate. Drilling into the bayonets was a bit tough - tough enough to have to re-sharpen and grind a shallower cutting angle the drill after 2 holes. But tapping the 2BA holes to suit the drawing was a real pain. Tough or what.........!

Here's a thought...... Maybe one of the clever forum moderators ought to copy and transfer all this SA80 bayonet gumph over to the Bayonet section. I don't expect that many of that ilk venture to the Bren forum for Bayonet info. But I could be wrong..........!