Was the Ross Rifle bayonet issued with the Thompson SMG during WW2???

[Flying10uk]

[quote=Peter Laidler;398889]F-10...... Come a bit closer as I don't want everyone to read this. Everyone on this forum has read books that have later been found to be incorrect. Indeed, I've written some! And, dare I say it, books on small arms are the worst offenders. We have all seen those '....Big Boys Bumper Bedside Book of Pistols, - or Rifles - or Machine guns, - or VW cars...... You know the sort. Yep, the sort that you read past the third page just out of sheer curiosity, to see what the author is going to say next. You MUST accept that authors are not infallible. And let this be a lesson for when you author your next book, you don't do what many do. That is a) Plagerise others, because you just copy their mistakes and b) don't read 6 books to write book 7 and c) but do ACCEPT THE WISDOM OF THE CROWD.

Peter, all that I have stated is what I have seen in the book mentioned. I don't know if the Ross bayonet was or wasn't fitted to the Thompson but I am personally not ready to jump in with both feet and state that the SAS defiantly never used the Ross bayonet with the Thompson during WW2 because I and no-one else currently submitting to this thread has seen any evidence. Perhaps it's a service thing to jump in with both feet and leave yourself with no room for manoeuvre but my view is never say never. If I was to state that the SAS never used the Ross bayonet with the Thompson just because I and no-one else subscribing to this thread has seen no evidence then, in my experience of life, there is a very good likelihood of someone producing a photograph of such a combination.

[Eaglelord17]

The only thing I could see as a possibility is using the Mk. 2 Ross Bayonet as a fighting knife, which especially if it was one with the modified sharpened tip would be a good use for it. I am not sure when the fairbairn-sykes started becoming issue for that sort of thing, but I could easily see a Ross bayonet in that role beforehand.

[Peter Laidler]

Other forumers are convinced that it is just to court controversy F-10. Not me you understand.......

It reminds me of two years ago when I received a parking ticket fine no less in the post from a notorious and zealous parking company. After a bit of tooing and froing, they told me that it was MY responsibility to to prove THEM wrong when my car was in Oxfordshire and the ticket issued in Nottinghamshire. No says I..... you have to prove ME wrong and a time was set aside at Nottingham County Court where my sister, a kindly but retired Barrister told them to produce their evidence to prove their case. Their bit part trainee man for Pxxxxxx xxx huffed and puffed and tried to blow the house down while she, quietly and calmly laid out every shred of time and detail evidence to the contrary before them. Back he came until the County Court Sherrif (they still call him the Sherrif there) told him that............. Anyway, after an hour of huffing and puffing against the odds, the case was closed. Luckily in this case there isn't £980 court costs to pay. Like that case, in this case there is no realistic prospect of or to misquote you '......there is NOT a very good likelihood of someone producing a photograph of such a combination'.

Here endeth my lesson......

[Brian Dick]

The only thing done with Ross bayonets that I know of is conversion to fighting knives as described by Eaglelord17 in post 22. I had one many years ago and didn't know it was legit at the time. I should have hung on to it.

[Flying10uk]

On the other hand, yesterday I did ask a well respected bayonet expert, that I just happen to know, what his views were on this matter. His response was similar to mine while he hadn't heard of a Ross bayonet being used in conjunction with a Thompson, never say never was his response.

[Aragorn243]

Yet what is the importance of even one freak instance of a soldier attempting to fit anything to one of his rifles? It is not official, it is not condoned, thus it comes down to misuse of government property. I have numerous books on bayonets and none of them mention a Ross being attached to anything but a Ross. The only official instance of a bayonet on a Thompson is a Krag bayonet and it was done not by the US government, but the manufacturer in an attempt to increase sales.

The Thompson was used by the SAS as the Sten was not available when they were organized. But this time period was short and while I doubt they disposed of the Thompsons once the Stens were available, why would they fool around trying to fit a Canadian Ross bayonet when they had tons of 1903 bayonets lying around and there is no one claiming they attempted to do this.

You are beating a dead horse.

[browningautorifle]

Other side of the coin is...I've shot lots of Thompson(owned them), 1928 and M1...and couldn't imagine adding a bayonet to an already heavy SMG. The 1921/28(depending on exactly which one the SAS happened to hold)with drum is already 15 lbs loaded. That would be another thing to have lumped on you, and as well, upending the balance of your finely balanced SMG... It's sort of suggesting the SAS aren't clear thinking individuals, and they are. Just doesn't make any sense to expect to find one.

[Aragorn243]

Checked Kieslings Bayonets of the World. Only rifles the bayonets went on were Ross's. It also describes the "fighting" knives commonly found and explains that they are actually hunting knives reworked by PAL. As this book is considered the standard by many and includes experimental bayonets, hopefully we can put this to rest.

[browningautorifle]

they are actually hunting knives reworked by PAL.

Yes, this one is ALMOST common knowledge, at least we've known about it for a while. Pal reworked a major scad of them, though the greatest part didn't see any real service. Most were relegated to civilian life after. Now one has to be careful that the one you have was actually a PAL tool rework and not cut down by John Q Public. If you're lucky you find the scabbard to accompany...that is also cut down.

[tankhunter]

Pete, Like you I had a second Career in the S.A.S.......The Saturday's & Sundays' Club!

(IE: The Army Reserves/ or back than know as the Territorial Army Reserves.)

As an slight aside, without the Service of the Army Reserves Units in these present times.
The Regular Army Could not function as 'effectively' as it does!