Rare No.5 Mk1, Type II bayonet for the No.5 Mk 1 Lee Enfield. Mk1, Type I bayonets had only a single screw through the grip scales and are incredibly rare.
The No.5 rifle had a shorter barrel and was lighter in weight, purposely made for airborne troops in the European theatre of World War II. Despite its initial purpose, the No.5 carbine saw most of its service in post war colonial conflicts such as the Malayan Emergency, earning it the nickname “Jungle Carbine.”
Production of the No.5 bayonet began in March 1944, and finished in December 1947. Four companies were initially contracted to produce the No.5 bayonet.
Wilkinson Sword Company, London made 188,354; Viners Ltd., Sheffield produced 42,000; Radcliffe made 75,000 and Elkington & Co. Ltd., Birmingham produced 10,768. An unknown, but small number were produced post WWII by the Royal Ordnance Factory in Poole, Dorset.
This bayonet is one of the rarer Poole made No.5’s, made in 1946.
The 203mm clip-point Bowie blade has a single edge and long single fuller below the rounded spine. The blade is in excellent condition and retains its factory edge. The ricasso retains most of its original black paint and is stamped with the Poole factory mark, a P within a circle and the date 1946.
The wrap around wooden grip scales are in excellent condition and are held tightly in place by two screws that bear tiny Broad Arrow stamps. The pommel bears a Broad Arrow stamp over F5 and the letter B. The right side of the mortice slot bears the numeral 2. The end of the beaked pommel bears a Broad Arrow beside F3 and the press stud is stamped with the letter P.
The bayonet is complete with its original, early issue Mk 1 scabbard. Mk II scabbards had a small rim to the throats and were more rounded at the bottom. The scabbard retains its original black finish.
This is a clean and honest example of a rare British bayonet.
