Chrome No 4 spike bayonet & scabbard

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

I purchased this F.F&S.L chromed no 4 bayonet some time ago and came across a chromed scabbard at a local gunshow this weekend until today I was thinking this was a "fantacy piece". Were these actually cerimonial use pieces at some point or did I just happen to find the bayos fantacy cousin?

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[browningautorifle]

The colour party in Canadian units used chrome bayonets. Some had a ball on the point and some didn't. I was also told by a Queen's Own Rifle Sgt that they used them for dress bayonets.

[Brian Dick]

The Legion Halls in Ontario are equipped with chrome No.4 rifles and the chrome spikes with the ball on the tip. I delivered many thousands of excellent quality Italian mfg. .303 blanks back in the 1990's that I'd guess they're still using for funeral ceremonies etc.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Do I need to keep an eye out for a white frog to complete the ensamble?

[Peter Laidler]

Before you invest in a white frog, I'd invest in getting that bayonet and scabbard bead blasted again to remove the existing chrome, get down to the decent bare metal again, under that rust pitting and get it re-chromed.

On the other hand and taking heed of the phrase that you can't polish xxxx, you could just get a decent looking bayonet that isn't already rusty and ask a good quality chroming works to set about it from scratch. Just my pragmatic take on things

[browningautorifle]

Always the armourer...but he has a point.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Always the armourer...but he has a point.

Was already concidering that as the bayonet itself is a bit rough.
We used to have plateing outfits seemingly on every corner but alas those days are gone. If it can be done for a reasonable cost it might just happen.

[gew8805]

I purchased this F.F&S.L chromed no 4 bayonet some time ago and came across a chromed scabbard at a local gunshow this weekend until today I was thinking this was a "fantacy piece". Were these actually cerimonial use pieces at some point or did I just happen to find the bayos fantacy cousin?

The so-called "F.F&S.L bayonet" was made by a regular contract maker of this No.4MkII* bayonet, F.F&S.L stands for Fred Fisher & Sons Ltd. who made the socket, not the complete bayonet.

The best - and only reason as far as I can see - to remove the chrome from a Canadian parade bayonet would be to find the name of the contractor who made it. The marks were often lightly stamped and would be almost impossible to read under the chrome IF they still exist. Many of the bayonets with sockets marked by contractors are very crudely machined to leave the bayonet makers extra metal to remove when making the finished bayonets and the makers did not always completely remove the machining marks in the interest of getting the complete bayonet out the door in a hurry for the war effort. I have a Lewisham Engineering bayonet with a F.F.&S.L. socket that shows no sign of any machining marks removed at all. This one appears to have had the machinist marks removed, probably by the Canadians before chroming what they considered a substandard bayonet. After all, Longbranch made only the MkII bayonet, not the MkII* with welded-on blade. Post WW2, they didn't need any MkII* bayonets and found an economical use for them.

Personally, I would leave it as is. the bayonet with matching scabbard (check the frog stud for a Canadian Property Mark - the "C" and "Broad Arrow") are collectable as is, even in less than stellar condition. I rarely disagree with anything Peter says, but in this case I am afraid I do, at least partially. As is with original Canadian chroming it is collectable, but removed and then replaced, it will be little better than junk from Ed "Big Daddy" Roth's work shop - it will belong with chromed Nazi helmets used in films in the 1960s.

[Peter Laidler]

To be honest gew8805, nobody knows whether this is Canadian chroming and therefore particularly collectable or even interesting! It could be, well....., just anyone with a cheap chroming facility chroming! And rubbish chroming at that. And on that basis, it's just.........., er....... what's the word I am looking for. Anyway, you get my drift. Better just start again

[Brit plumber]

Chromings got some nasty s*** in it which is why it costs a fortune to do, only the Indians really chrome large scale now due to their 'liberal' health and safety rules, just look at a Royal Enfield! Oh and the quality is s*** too. I think pretty much every middle eastern state must have chromed Lee Enfields in their time and then varnished the wood to 'Finish it off'.