Rare WW2 Australian Orange Arsenal Pattern 1907 Bayonet With Scabbard And Frog. Dated 1942.
Rare WW2 Australian Orange Arsenal Pattern 1907 Bayonet With Scabbard And Frog. Dated 1942.
A fine example of a WW2 Australian Pattern 1907 bayonet for the Short Magazine Lee-Enfield (SMLE) rifle, specifically the Mark III version. Included is a leather scabbard and canvas frog. Overall condition is good with much of the original bluing to the blade and other metal parts still present. The locking button is functional and all stamps are clear. The bayonet inserts and withdraws smoothly and is held firmly in the scabbard. Stamps are as follows :
Left ricasso : "MA" (Munitions Australia - Designation for the Lithgow Small Arms Factory).
"1907" (pattern). The "I" is an inspector's stamp.
"9/42" (manufacture date - September, 1942).
Right ricasso : Broad arrow (Australian Military acceptance stamp).
"X" (bend test stamp)
"OA" (Orange Arsenal)
Grips : "SLAZ42" (Slazenger, 1942). Slazenger had a large contract with Lithgow SAF for many years and they were charged with making the grips for the bayonets from 1941 onward.
Pommel : "626" (serial or unit number)
Orange Arsenal was a secondary factory established during WWII to help the Lithgow Small Arms Factory with the increased production demands during WWII. From July of 1942 most Australian Bayonets were made there.
Length (bayonet) : 55cm
Length (blade) : 42.5cm
Length (in scabbard) : 57cm
