What bayonet would be correct with my 1918 Lithgow SMLE

[mfzr01]

G'day,

Seeking advice as to what the 'proper' bayonet to go with my 1918 Lithgow SMLE would be? Hoping to try to find one to complete the rifle.

Thanks in advance...

Chris

Information

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[smith3006]

Chris, you will need an Australian manufactured Pattern 1907 Sword bayonet. These bayonets were made at Lithgow and will be stamped accordingly. It will have the year stamped in full e.g. 1918. Depending on when the rifle was issued it could have been issued with either a 1917 or 1918 dated bayonet. From your photo you have a very nice rifle so your selection of a bayonet should reflect the condition of your rifle. The bayonet scabbard should also reflect the that early period and not one with a large round frog stud which is usually indicative of the WW2 period.

[mfzr01]

Thanks for the info. I'll keep my eyes peeled for one. Have a look at the militaria section of usedguns.com.au There is a Pattern 1907 Hooked Quillion Bayonet going for $5000!
Any chance you could post a link to a photo of one? Might have to wait for the next militaria fair....

[old-smithy]

Any 1907 woudl have been issued with your rifle, the rifles and bayoents were not matched and were delivered and put together at the unit level, so what ever was in stores was what was issued. A 1918 rifle may not have been issued to a long time later so 20's ones woudl be just as good. In fact it may even have been provided with a WWII bayonet during its life. The same goes with the scabbard either the large or small stud woudl be right as both are WWI regulation. The Australians used the 1907 or MkI bayoent right through Korea as I ahve a Korean rework with the phopshate finish, and this uses a reworked double stitched scabbard from the 20's. Few countries kept up the rifle and bayonet being numbered together once the wars started

[smith3006]

Australian bayonets were manufactured in quanties that matched the number of rifles manufactured in each year. In 1914 and 1915 many British contract manufactured bayonets were issued to Australians as the Lithgow factory could not manufacture sufficent quanties. From 1916 onwards after the expansion of Lithgow and the establishment feeder factories for various parts were established there was less reliance on British contract bayonets. To say that any bayonet would have been issued with your rifle is a long stretch. It is basically impossible for an Australian made rifle issued in 1918 to have a 1920 manufactured bayonet issued with it. As rifles were returned to store in later years and refurbished and/or reissued either in WW2 or for Korea then they wiould have an appropriate bayonet issued with it, whatever that may be. Without seeing the stampings on your rifle's knoxform or butt it is impossible to know its history. It was originally issued in 1918 and would have the appropiate 1918 or before bayonet. Lawrence Ordnace in Sydney has a website that details a 1916 dated bayonet. Bayonets up till 1920 are similar. If you cannot locate a 1917 or 1918 then let me know.

Lawrance Ordnance - Lithgow 1916 Pattern 1907 Bayonet

[mfzr01]

smith3006 - I posted in the Lee Enfield section a heap of photos of my SMLE markings.

My First Lee Enfield....

Hope they can shed some light. I have noticed that Cleaver Firearms in Queensland have Wilkinson bayo and a Remington 1915, also a 1940 Australian un-issued. I'm going to hold out for a 1918 Lithgow. The rifle is all matching so the Bayonet should match as close as possible.

Thanks

[smith3006]

I see your SMLE was factory refurbished in 1946 which now allows for an additional selection of bayonets. In the early to mid 1940s Lithgow also refurbished many bayonets. These could bear any issue date but are often marked on the pommel opposite the release catch similar to 7/46/R which designates that the bayonet was refurbished and the date this was undertaken. You could also simply select a bayonet issued anywhere from say 1943 to 1946 (some of your woodwork is dated 1943). These bayonets were manufactured at the Orange feeder factory for Lithgow and will be marked "OA". There is a selection of these bayonets on Barrys Firearms webpage. Unfortunately a good 1918 will be twice the price of a 1943.

[Aragorn243]

I agree with Old Smithy on this one. As the war ended in 1918, the rifle may have never seen service in WWI and thus not issued for many years remaining in storage. As it was, it did see service in WWII as refurbishment was required. I think I would prefer an Australian bayonet over a British one but either would work.

[Peter Laidler]

! agree with Old Smithy and Aragorm in threads 4 and 8 on this one. They're dead right. I was a unit Armourer for hundreds of years and contrary to what you might read elsewhere, rifles were NOT issued with a bayonet. I know you see those No4 blades serially numbered but there's a commercial 'reason' for that called 'added desirability and sales pitch'. The bayonets came separately as a big pile. You went into the Armoury and the Arms storeman gave you a rifle and a bayonet. I never, ever, ever saw, in my 50 years since 1963, an Arms storeman select a special year bayonet for a special year rifle. Enfield L1A1's got whatever bayonet was in the tray, as did BSA No4's and so on.

And to take that analogy back to the big Ordnance Depots who issued the bayonets and rifles to the units, I would bet that they didn't select matches either....... but I could be wrong!

[tankhunter]

And to add to Peters statement on Markings: If you send me any bayonet of your choice.
I, will put ANY unit markings or serial numbers you desire upon them!.............

You could have a VERY rare British Parachute Regiment marked 1890 issue Lee Metford if you wanted one!.......