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 was produced by the Wilkinson Sword Company, London.
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 with no indication of additional sharpening. The ricasso retains most of its original blackening and is stamped with the WSC mark of the Wilkinson Factory, and Wilkinson’s war-time dispersal code, 294. The obverse ricasso bears a broad arrow stamp, a second, longer arrow and two additional partly struck stamps that look to be a W and the numeral 7. The crosspiece bears a punch mark that could be a leftover of the machining process.
The wrap around wooden grips are in excellent condition and are held tightly in place by two screws, both of which bear a tiny, faint Broad Arrow stamp. The beaked pommel and cross guard retain their original finish and are in great condition. The press stud is in perfect working order and ius stamped with a tiny Broad Arrow and the letter B.
The bayonet is complete with its original MkII scabbard. The throat is stamped with a broad arrow and a dispersal code. The scabbard retains its original black finish and the bayonet sheathes and draws smoothly and is held firmly.
This is an excellent and honest example of a rare British bayonet.
