Lee Enfield 1907 Pattern info wanted

[MA107]

bigduke6, you have a very nice collection there, some of them look longer than 560mm, yes the 1907 is addictive, I'm already wanting another one, but may go for the 1888, there is one up for grabs.
Cheers

[bigduke6]

Thanks MA107, There are a few more additions since them pics were taken, the size difference is the scabbard only, all the same blades except two of them that were DP bayonets were the tip is ground down (not much) more the point rounded off.

The bayonets at the end are 1907 variations such as the Owen Sub Machine gun etc.

Think I have most makes, but tend to go for unit marked ones now, when branching out to the 1888 I stuck to unit marked ones, also the 1903 (but both of these bayonets now fetch a high premium in the UK) the last time I was at a Military collectors fair some of the prices were eye watering, still some good deals to be had though.

If your just starting out pick a theme regarding the collection such as the 1907, makes, unit marked, variations.... or all Enfield bayonets from the Martini up to the No4 , Maybe Mauser bayonets or go for all nations from WW1, WW2 etc and go for good examples or ones that can be fixed.....

[Colonel Enfield]

old-smithy, you are right it will take a lot of work, but I may just buy another 303 with full wood stock, and make sure it has the bracket that holds the bayonet in place, there really cheap old rifles, and really good, 303 would have to be one of my favored rifles. Another question I have, are you able to sharpen these bayonets? Or do they leave the factory with a slight edge like my one has, There is also another marking on the wooden handle, it looks to be SIAZ42 or SLAZ42 it's a bit hard to work out in different light angles.
Cheers

---------- Post added at 01:34 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:24 PM ----------

Kiwi, thanks for that, I'll buy a full wood stock 303, the Rifle I have now is a BSA 1918, not a lee enfield as I thought, it looks like one, there are 3 of them in the cabinet, I'll upload some pictures sometime soon. And I'll PM you when I've got a new rifle, for advice, and parts if it needs any. Do you have any pictures of your rifles on this website?
Cheers

SLAZ 42 is Slazenger (as in the sportsgoods company, who made rifle stocks and bayonet during WWII), year 1942.

Despite being made by BSA, your rifle is still a Lee-Enfield. Lee refers to the action (designed by James Paris Lee), while Enfield refers to the rifling type (developed at the Royal Small Arms Factory Enfield).

Rifles of that design (Short Magazine Lee-Enfield Mk III/Mk III*, or SMLE for short) are still Lee-Enfields regardless of whether they're made at RSAF Enfield, BSA, SAF Lithgow (Australia) or the Ishapore Arsenal in India, if that makes sense.

[old-smithy]

THe only officially sharpened 07's i know of were done by Australia at the latter part of WWII there should be a picture on my site as i know its on my CD of bayonets for the SMLE. I am sure soem were sharpened but the 07 is too long to use as a knife even in the shorter Indian ones, and it would be against regulation and possibley get you into trouble. Bayonets are not typically sharped as they are thrustign weapons and dont need an edge, also they are not sharp to prevent people cutting themselves

[browningautorifle]

Bayonets are not typically sharped as they are thrustign weapons and dont need an edge, also they are not sharp to prevent people cutting themselves

This of course is old school thought Carl. Examination of the bayonets for the AK, AR M7 M9 and specially the newest Eichhorn bayonets testifies to a different train of thought. Even older ones like the M5 and M6 are sharp.

[Peter Laidler]

Armourers shops throughout history have probably found out, like me and zillions before and after me, that once you let the crunchies sharpen them, then the sky and tools they'll use are beyond the limit of your imagination. Fxxxxxg great grinding wheels, grinders, edges of pavements, upward clipped points sharper than a strippers nipples ..... god.............. I could go on!

Skippy, Son and Tankie.......... give us a few more examples please. Arte et Marte - which art in heaven

[old-smithy]

This of course is old school thought Carl. Examination of the bayonets for the AK, AR M7 M9 and specially the newest Eichhorn bayonets testifies to a different train of thought. Even older ones like the M5 and M6 are sharp.

Very true, but the new AK and SA80 bayonets are completely blunt as well. Modern bayonets post and make the 1907 look sharp ;-) Knife bayonets are sharp, and i have one Socket that nearly opened me up the edges were so sharp. I woudl say the new US bayonets are both very sharp and can take a good edge as so bayonets liek the Strider ZT-1 and the ITalian Extreme Ratio is as well. But these are dual purpose blades being used as a knife as well as a bayonet.

[browningautorifle]

these are dual purpose blades being used as a knife as well as a bayonet.

Agreed.

[Roy]

Its interesting MA107's '07 is serialised. Does it also have NZ marks? I dont recall seeing a Aussie '07 with NZ marks and a serial no. before. Pre WW2 NZ rifles and bayonet are usually marked but the 40's Aussie gear does not seem to be so. The early WW1 NZ bayonets have unit markings and are quite uncommon.

28 (Maori) Battalion relished getting their bayonets sharp and using them. Their unit history says something like, its all in getting the point razor sharp for thrusting

[old-smithy]

A thrusting point does not need to be sharp, not with the load on it, try a ladies stilettos on her foot, the point is very blunt but it will go right through you. I have seen lots of comments on pictures of guys sharpening their blade especially films(?) and was told by one old NCO that he let them do it, if it made them feel better/safer then it did no harm. My old boss was UK SAS in WWII and i commented on his Fairbairns broken point, his comment was that all the lads who actually used them broke of the very sharp tip and replaced it with a rounder one, it went in just as easy but made it safer to open tins with, and these were those at the front adn dropped behind lines etc. they knew and relied on their weapons