This is a very rare Australian prototype or experimental bayonet based on the British No.9 bayonet.
It is thought that these prototype bayonets were made in the early 1950’s. Little more is known about them as so few were made and no official documentation has been released.
Ian Skennerton & Robert Richardson in the book, “British and Commonwealth Bayonets,” describe this bayonet in the “miscellaneous” section although the Australian Department of Defence stamps and Mk1, Owen type scabbard indicate that this was clearly an Australian project, albeit with British participation.
The 250mm Bowie style blade has a slightly rounded spine terminating in a sharpened clip-point. The un-fullered blade has an “apple seed” grind to the edge and has been service sharpened. The forte of the blade is stamped with the numeral 5, which could indicate the 5th Military District (Western Australia). The blade is in very good condition with slight marks and scratches commensurate with its age and use.
The blackened steel socket is the same as that of the British No.9 bayonet. The muzzle ring diameter is 15.2mm. The right side of the socket block bears the Australian Defence Department stamp of an arrow within a capital D. The left side of the socket block is deeply struck with another numeral 5 and another Australian Defence Department stamp, two capital D’s with an arrow between.
The top of the locking catch plunger bears a British War Department arrow and an Enfield factory stamp. This is the same style of stamp, a capital D incorporating an over stamped E & F that was used on the Enfield produced No.9 bayonets. The front of the block is also stamped with an Enfield factory mark and the inspection number 165. This indicates that the socket block was a British No.9 block made in the UK.
Interestingly, British No.9 bayonets produced by the Enfield factory have the pattern designation, No.9 Mk I and a much larger factory mark as well as the production date stamped on the left side of the block. The absence of these stamps on this block could indicate that although the block itself was produced by the Enfield factory in the UK, its production was specifically for the prototype bayonet at the request of the Australian Defence Department. It would make sense for this to have been the case as the necessary tools and infrastructure to produce the block were already in place in the UK.
The bayonet is complete with a shortened No.1 Mk II scabbard, also known as the Owen scabbard. The scabbard is in excellent condition. The locket and chape bear Lithgow factory marks.
The bayonet sheathes and draws smoothly and is held snugly within the scabbard.
This is an extremely rare and exciting prototype. A “must have” for any collector of Australian bayonets.
