L3A1 SA80 Bayonet Casting

[Peter Laidler]

Germany - or anywhere....... I don't understand that......... I recall that when I left, due to different L85 configuurations or the add-=on bits, such as 'swirl' flash eliminators (a frill if not a total fruad....) different handguards and UGL fittings, torches, kettles, red-dots etc etc etc, only one member of an Infantry fighting section had a rifle capable of accepting a bayonet.

[Flying10uk]

Germany - or anywhere....... I don't understand that

I did say "Germany or somewhere other than the UK"

I was asking where the SA80 bayonets are made today because the UK factory where they were originally made no longer exists (post 3). Since H&K in Germany have the contract to service the rifles it would seem logical that the bayonets are now made there too. If the SA80 bayonets are not currently made in Germany or the UK presumably they are made somewhere?

[skiprat]

I think they may be on the "first " batch of bayonets. something like 350,000 (total numbers apparently are not known!!) SA80's were made. and as the Army now stands at some 80,000 it leaves a lot in storage to be used as replacement spares.
even the newer SA80 A2 used older original A1 trigger Mech housings (TMH), I never saw a new made replacement trigger mech housing (not seen the new A3 but believe they are just modified A1 TMH)

[Peter Laidler]

Not really connected with this bayonet thread but just to elaborate on Skippt;s response above. If the moderators feel that our two responses ought to be within another section, pllease feel free........

He's right. According to the court papers during a recently celebrated court case, the all-up GSRequirement for the SA80 rifles was eventually to be circa 350,000 units of all types. The highest number I recall seeing was in the UN-330,000 region. That 350,000 figure included rifles, LSW's and Cadet GP's. These included conversions of a quantity to DP spec and possibly 200 to be welded up for use as 'back-packers. So far, so good.

The design authority for the UPPER part of the rifle was transferred to H&K as part of the deal to upgrade the rifle to A2 spec. The design authority for the lower, the TMH - or the master component - remains the UK MoD. Quite why this quite innocuous part was deemed to be the master component was a mystery because the MoD authority stated in open court that as a stand alone item, it couldn't even be classified as a fiirearm. The TMH was not proofed or even fixed to the rifle - or ANY rifle - when the rifle was proofed! The assembled upper was though, together with the barrel and breech block. Be that as it may.....

It was like pulling teeth, even with documentary, and photographic evidence that had already been accepted by another Court but the prosecution, acting for the MoD, refused to accept that the rifles were available to non MoD buyers. There's nothing quite like having the advertisments in the popular shooting magazines of the time for the sale of the rifles - to the authorised members of the public - thrust under their noses.

Anyway..... Onwards and upwards