Original Item: Only One Available. Now this is something we haven’t had to offer in quite some time! This is an early war SMLE No.4 MKI Spike Bayonet with a cruciform spiked blade. The No. 4 Bayonet was created to replace the current bayonet at the time in service which was the World War I vintage Pattern 1907 bayonet. It was the result of the British search for a new bayonet to replace the Pattern 1907 which began just after World War I which came to the conclusion around the beginning of World War II that the best replacement for the pattern 1907 bayonet would be a Spike type bayonet. This was then implemented which led to the No. 4 becoming a Spike type bayonet. The design of the No. 4 Bayonet is said to have been taken from Swiss socket bayonets. The No 4 bayonet was accepted into service alongside the No 4 rifle.

During the course of World War II the design of the No 4 bayonet changed over time. The first variant, like this example here, the No 4 mk I bayonet much like other weapons at the beginning of World War II was high quality. Hence relatively few of this variant of the No 4 bayonet were produced. The next variant made in 1942 and the most produced one is the No 4 mk II bayonet which saved production time by omitting milling the blade in the production process but had no other design changes. After the No 4 mk II bayonet the design was further changed in 1942 to save costs and disperse production by making the blade and socket separately and this became the bayonet No 4 mk II*. The final variant of the No 4 bayonet is the bayonet No 4 mk III which further reduced the cost of a bayonet by making the socket out of welding stamped steel pieces instead of as a single piece.

This example is in wonderful condition with the possibility of not having seen real use. The condition is quite nice with much of the finish still present everywhere but the actual blade portion. No extensive damage is present on any part of the set but the canvas frog does have staining present.

A great example of a hard to find British bayonet that comes more than ready for further research and display.

Specifications:
Blade Length: 8"
Blade Style: Cruciform
Overall length: 9 7/8"
Scabbard Length: 8 1/4"