Did a bit of a sort through of some woodworking tools of my late father-in-law and came across this.





I realise that it is a bayonet and certainly not as old as the other weapons he collected but can anyone shed any more light on it please? My guess is it is from WWII but then again I know virtually nothing about these things. The only mark I can see is a stamp "No4MKII*".

Sorry about the poor pictures.

Sound like a Lee-Enfield rifle from the designation.

ENFIELD No.4 MKII RIFLE CAL. .303 Brit .

[www.angelfire.com]


[arms2armor.com]

<edit to add second link>

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/13/2009 10:07AM by lafinfil.

Thank you TLB and lafinfil.

I wonder if eBay allow this sort of thing.

list it as an awl (woodworking tool )

Looks a lot like the one halfway down this page:
enfield again for 75 pounds
[www.neaca.com]

Yup... late war Lee-Enfield bayonet, for a #4 MkII (or any of the myriad Mk variants).

On the US surplus market, it would be worth about $30.
I don't know what the market is in Great Britain... I'm assuming the supply is somewhat more plentiful there than here..

eBay used to allow such things, but I don't know the current status.
You might also check out Gunbroker (like eBay for guns and accessories for same).

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Paul F.
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A sword never kills anybody; it is a tool in the killer's hand. - Lucius Annaeus Seneca c. 5 BC - 65 AD
----
Good is the enemy of Excellent. Talent is not necessary for Excellence.
Persistence is necessary for Excellence. And Persistence is a Decision.
--

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Eureka, CA

I've searched on eBay UK and there have been a few. Very little money involved but I will probably still list it one day.

Thanks again for the quick help people.

does it still work for killing??

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Why is it round?

A round bayonet is easier, faster, and cheaper to make than a blade...
That's why the "spike" bayonet was introduced for the #4 MkII rifles... they could turn them out in the millions, to go with the millions of rifles needed.

As recently as 10 years ago, you could find brand new war production #4 Enfield rifles surplus for about $100, still packed in grease. I really wish I'd bought one then.. now they're up to $200, and finding one still new-in-grease is pretty darn hard (and would command a premium price).

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Paul F.
-----
A sword never kills anybody; it is a tool in the killer's hand. - Lucius Annaeus Seneca c. 5 BC - 65 AD
----
Good is the enemy of Excellent. Talent is not necessary for Excellence.
Persistence is necessary for Excellence. And Persistence is a Decision.
--

--

--
Eureka, CA

Quote
Dakota
Why is it round?

multifunctionality
awl, toothpick, earwax removal, marshmallow toasting stick, laser pointer substitution, etc.....

a flat blade would be better for buttering toast and slicing birthday cake, though.





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/13/2009 11:17AM by billb.

Quote
Paul F.
A round bayonet is easier, faster, and cheaper to make than a blade...
T

What about lethality?

If you put a round hole in people... they leak. Good enough!


By WWII, bayonet charges were a bit out of fashion...
Even though they were used a few time in WWII, the bayonet was quickly becoming an afterthought. The foot-long british blade bayonets on the World War One #1 MKIII and Long-Lee Enfield rifles were too cumbersome to carry, and expensive to make, for something that no soldier every really wanted to be close enough to the enemy to use.

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Paul F.
-----
A sword never kills anybody; it is a tool in the killer's hand. - Lucius Annaeus Seneca c. 5 BC - 65 AD
----
Good is the enemy of Excellent. Talent is not necessary for Excellence.
Persistence is necessary for Excellence. And Persistence is a Decision.
--

--

--
Eureka, CA

Weren't those used on the Sten's Mk II also?

Jay

I think you may be right about that...
Since I don't have the opportunity to own a Sten, I'm not really studied up on 'em.

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Paul F.
-----
A sword never kills anybody; it is a tool in the killer's hand. - Lucius Annaeus Seneca c. 5 BC - 65 AD
----
Good is the enemy of Excellent. Talent is not necessary for Excellence.
Persistence is necessary for Excellence. And Persistence is a Decision.
--

--

--
Eureka, CA

Quote
Paul F.
If you put a round hole in people... they leak. Good enough!

I detect new sig potential for someone.

its all fun and games til someone gets their eye poked out...

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Edited 999 time(s). Last edit at 12:08PM by jdc.

@#$%&. You aim for the breadbasket.

Hey I just bought an Enfield last month! Number 3 though. That bayonet wont fit it.

I wish I had a late model .308 version.