Australian No4 Mk2* Pig Sticker Bayonet with Desert brown paint.

[Flying10uk]

Could some-one please advise what marking an upper case "D" with arrow above indicates? I thought it to be Australian issue/ownership. There is/was a similar bayonet on the World bayonet website.

[browningautorifle]

Do you mean the ED combination?

[Flying10uk]

No, just a single "D" with an arrow above; I have 3 off No4 mk2* Pigstickers with this marking on but only the single example with the desert brown paintwork. Others have noted this marking but as far as I am aware it has only been seen on the mk2* version. I knew the example which I have is very unusual with the desert paintwork as soon as I saw it and that is why I purchased it. I don't believe that the trader knew too much about bayonets because I also purchased another relatively rare Pigsticker at the same time, also priced @ £15, a No4 mk2 by Canadian Arsenals in near mint condition with scabbard.

[CINDERS]

Perhaps some pictures uploaded of the item would expedite and assist in the recognition of the markings and subsequent knowledge improvements bit hard to get a picture from type set.........

[gsimmons]

Wasn't the Oz property mark D arrow D at the time? D with arrow being well before the WWII era.

[smith3006]

I read a lot on this forum but rarely comment unless I think it necessary. Old Smithy (Carl) will know who I am when I say I purchased a collection of Australian bayonets recently. Australians were issued No4 bayonets when they were deployed overseas not when residing in Australia. It is hard to confirm this is one of these bayonets without photos of the markings. The markings as described are basically correct with the exception that they are always accompanied by the makers mark which has not been mentioned here. Such markings are recorded in one of the books however if I mention what these are then it is simply a matter to say "Yes. That is what I have". Need to know what the makers make is and of course the bayonet will be a model MkII*

[Flying10uk]

I have now managed to get someone to digital photograph the bayonet and a do close-up of the markings which hopefully they will e-mail to me when they return home from a weekend away. Provided that I can figure out how to get the pictures from the e-mail up-loaded onto this site with my limited I.T. skills I hope to have the pictures on this thread next week at some point- please watch this space. There is a makers mark next to the arrow over D. I will have to check what the mark is as I'm currently using a computer in a different location to the bayonet but from memory I think it is N56.


Has any-one ever seen any wartime photographs of Australian soldiers using No4 rifles/bayonets in North Africa, please? I have seen 2 or 3 wartime photographs in books of British soldiers armed with No4 rifles/bayonets in North Africa although the SMLE seems to have been used much more commonly.

[smith3006]

I will have to check what the mark is as I'm currently using a computer in a different location to the bayonet but from memory I think it is N56.

Yes, that is the correct maker. The arrow over the D in combination with N56 is attributed to Australian issue whilst in Europe. The stamping of such is on the forward end of the socket near the blade (Not on the side of the socket). I am not aware of any Australians being issued these in North Africa, however, it is possible just not recorded as such, that I am aware of anyway. I hope you get to upload the photos I look forward to seeing them.

[mike1967]

The arrow should be inside the D, and the use of that particular mark had well and truly ceased by WW2.

[smith3006]

The arrow should be inside the D, and the use of that particular mark had well and truly ceased by WW2.

Do not agree that the arrow should be inside the D. The arrow inside the D is a "Land Service" marking and the majority of all my British Pattern 1907 sword bayonets used by Australia in WW1 bear this stamp on the pommel and on the leather (rear ) of the scabbard. Whilst there is a reference to this in Ian Skennerton's book "The Broad Arrow" the best reference is a fact sheet from the Lithgow Small Arms Factory Museum entitled "FS-001 Markings on Australian SMLE Rifles" it says this marking was only used up to 1920. After the 1920s the D^D started and continued until the 1960's. The D over Arrow or Arrow over D (Defence Department marking) appears across a broad range of equipment. Renowned bayonet guru Graham Priest makes mention (including a picture) of this Australian marking in question in his book covering the No4 rifle and its bayonets entitled "Spirit of the Pike". Unfortunately I have never been able to date when this mark in question started/ended.