While perusing at my favorite local antique store this weekend I came across this No9Mk1 bayonet. Two things caught my attention on this bayonet. First, it was British manufactured and not Pakistani (most what we find in the Pacific Northwest). And 'B', it had a scabbard! Never seen a No9 with a scabbard out here. The blade was well covered in a greasy preservative much like axle grease and the outside had a harder sticky preservative much like a thin layer of cosmoline. There is no wear on the finish, almost like it was never issued. Enfield stamp and dated 1954. Well, it followed me home and here's some pictures.
BEAR
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Veteran US Navy Seabees - US Army Corps of Engineers - American Legion Post 0867
" Only two defining forces have offered to die for me. 1.) Jesus Christ 2.) The American G.I. "One died for your soul, the other for your freedom! "
The reason why you usually find zillions of these No7 and 9 bayonets WITHOUT scabbards is because when the unit was issued with its compliment of L1A1 rifles in the late 50's until the mid to late 60's, they were also issued with the bayonets too. The existing No7 or 9 bayonets were returned but the scabbards were used for the new-issue L1A1 bayonets. So the No7 and 9's were returned to Ordnance for disposal - scabbard-less!
But there was a problem that took a couple of years to remedy. That's because a LOT of the smaller units only had No4 type bayonets......, without No5 scabbards! So for a few years these small units had L1A1 rifles without scabbards until production was upped to cater for them. In the meantime, an order was issued that the No5 bayonets and scabbards issued with the L2A3 Sterling guns were to remain.
It wasn't that simple either........ Because neither were there sufficient L1A1 Energa grenade launchers available either! Later, a similar situation arose when the No4 launcher was fully withdrawn.......except that the leather case remained for the L1A1 type.
But t all worked out well in the end. What the confusion DID ensure was that Armourers managed to squirrel away '..... one or two....' as a form of '..future currency...'
There, another view of things as they really were
As a matter of interest, even while I was attached to an Infantry unit in the mid 60's, while the L1A1/No4 replacement programme was almost at the end, while we were knee deep in No4 and 9 bayonets, There were very few No7 bayonets in the system. The attrition/failure rate of the rotating pommel mechanism had seen to that. I did find a few that others had mistakenly set aside because they thought that they were for the L2A3 Sterlings! Naturally, I set them aside....... for a rainy day!
Last edited by Peter Laidler; 09-11-2022 at 06:24 AM.
Reason: to add a bit....
Bear; that's a good looking bayonet.
I have a couple of No9 Bayonets with scabbards that I picked up in a small collection of bayonets a few years ago.
I did not realise that they were dificult to find with scabbard.
Maybe not so hard in Europe but in the Pacific Northwest, USA I have never seen a scabbard with a No9 until this one came along.
This particular bayonet will be a Christmas present for my son since he collects Enfield Rifles.
Just trying to go off of memory and that's often not a good idea but aren't the South African No9's shaped different with a different shaped scabbard? I never took photos of mine and have no idea where it is at the moment. Bowie blade verses spear tip and a round ball on the end of the scabbard.
I have a Poole No.9 with brass throated steel scabbard.
Here is a link on then for those that may wish to have a guide as to types and manufactured No.s. The British No. 9 Bayonet and Foreign Copies
manufactured and not Pakistani (most what we find in the Pacific Northwest). And 'B', it had a scabbard! Never seen a No9 with a scabbard out here. The blade was well covered in a greasy preservative much like axle grease and the outside had a harder sticky preservative much like a thin layer of cosmoline
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Originally Posted by Aragorn243
