Did RSAF Enfield Lock provide crossguards for No.5 'Jungle Carbine' bayonets?

[tankhunter]

Pete, The Protective cage on the IWS switch worked to protect it alright. How do we know this? Because we were CONSTANTLY bending the 'wings' on either side. Back to the straightened position, after they had had a 'knock' by 'The End user'!.. They DID work, but only Just!.............

L1A3 Markings to the pommel. I Totally concur with your comments on the marking after modding. It WAS indeed obvious to anyone looking at a Modified bayonet that the alteration had been done. HOWEVER, as I said previously, I personaly HAVE actually handled/Owned/Sold & viewed MANY L1A3 Pommel marked bayonets. Now, wether these came from Colonial stocks or whatever. I cannot state for a fact. But.......Fact, They ARE out there, & they are common!

You know the score with Brit kit. If you do something with the MINIMUM of expense/Effort & agro. It was done! (As long as it was safe!)............ Regarding Vehicle indicator Mods. The RL 3 Tonner I owned (You will have seen the pics on the ARMRs Association Website) It was an early 1956 Production variant that saw service in the Suez campaign. It had blanking plates fitted to the lower cab wings. Where the EARLY small & curved Indicator lights were mounted. You will be perfectly aware & remember 'Fondly' Im sure. The later 'Liollipop' orange round ones that are the 'Norm' for such truck. So as you say, it was an obvious MOD to be seen by all, because of the covers over the holes where the original small indicator lights were. You REALLY couldn't miss the Lollipop lights when fitted! no MOD PLATE FITTED!

[tankhunter]

Here are a couple of pics of the markings on a L1A1 bayonet converted to the L1A3 standards. These are the standard markings on converted L1A1 bayonets.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...1793fb80-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...6016dc25-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...cd3e2236-1.jpg

Yep, In reality. Even though the L1A1's had been modded to L1A3 spec. And the grips SHOULD have had the nomenclature barred out. a VAST amount simply kept their original nomenclature on them. Can you imagine the huge amount of work that in practice was not really necessary. Removing grips, barring the designation out. & then re-riveting them back on!.....In practice, ONLY when a grip got damaged & required replacement. was an L1A3 marked grip scale fitted. & then as you had them off the tang. You GENERALLY fitted a new PAIR with matching nomenclature. The serviceable L1 marked grip scale was most often put back into on the shelf spares. To be fitted when stocks were low/exhausted as a last resort.

[Peter Laidler]

Got that Tankie. Didn't remember your RL though. We had some VERY early RL's in Malaya with BH (?) and BJ numbers.

But back to the bayonets. A simple 4 figure number on a bit of kit wouldn't indicate ANYTHING to a blanket stacker storeman..., absolutely nothing. It would always be at least the last 7 figures that would count because these and the B1/B2/B4 etc etc VAOS code are the actual PART number by which you can identify stuff. The 99 part is the nationality code and the 1005 is an equipment code. Thus
B1- Rifles
1005-equipment code. Some say something else but what the heck
99- nationality code
960- and
1234 the actual part number. THere is also a blocking code built into this so that you cannot indent for a set of Centurion tank tracks if your unit only has Challenger tanks!

This 7 figure identifier is apparent when you look at the grips. Even though the numbers are VERY small, the last 7 figures are shown.
Anyway, I've said my piece - or peace!

[Peter Laidler]

Just seen a UK issue L1A3 marked with the last 4 of the NSN and L1A3 on the rear end of the pommell. Two different markings on the grips So quite who did them is a mystery. As is why they are so marked? Sorry chaps!