British No9 Mk1 Lee Enfield Bayonet

Description

The British No.9 Mk1 socket bayonet was developed as a replacement for the unpopular No.4 spike bayonet in the post-war period. Production began in 1947, initially at the Royal Ordnance Factory in Poole, Dorset, where approximately 200,000 No.9 Mk I bayonets were manufactured between 1947 and 1949. In 1949, production of the No.9 bayonet shifted to the Enfield Small Arms factory. Enfield continued to produce the No.9 bayonet until 1956, and a final batch of 10,000 units was made at Enfield in 1962.

The bayonet in question was produced by Enfield in 1950. It features a 202mm Bowie-style blade with a rounded spine and a sharpened clip point. The blade is blued, displaying a deep single fuller and an originally sharp edge. It retains its original blued finish and bears a bend test X stamp on the forte. The obverse forte carries an arrow stamp. The socket of the bayonet is marked with the Enfield maker's mark, represented by a "D". On the same side of the socket block, there is a War Department arrow stamp.

Excellent condition.

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