^Lot 1324 British No.7 MK1 Land Service Bayonet w/ Scabbard

British No.7 MK1 Land Service Bayonet w/ Scabbard

These rare bayonets were made for use with the Sten MkV sub machine gun.
Originally, they were also intended for use with the Lee Enfield No.4 rifle but
were only issued with this rifle for parade purposes.

This bayonet was made by the Birmingham Small Arms factory (BSA) in
1945 and is one of only 25,000 made by BSA. The swivel socket bears
BSAs wartime dispersal code M74 B.

The No7 Mk 1 Land service bayonet was designed in 1944 and only
176,000 were produced. The design was perfected by the Wilkinson Sword
Co., who produced 1,000 bayonets in 1944 and subsequent production was
carried out by four others makers from 1945 until 1948.

The bayonet’s innovative design with its unique swiveling socket allowed it to
be both bayonet and fighting knife with deep finger grooves in the hilt, which
is made of resin-impregnated cloth called Paxolin.

The 207mm clip point blade has a deep single fuller on both sides and is in
very good condition. The blade has been service sharpened. The ricasso is
stamped with the designation No.7 M. K. 1/L. The obverse ricasso is
stamped with a crowned inspection mark, War Department broad arrow
and M47. The blued crosspiece also bears a broad arrow stamp.

The swivel pommel retains its original blued finish and bears the marks
M47 B and the War Department broad arrow. The socket catch is also
stamped with a broad arrow.

The paxolin grips are in excellent condition and the swivel and locking
mechanisms work perfectly. The Mk1 steel scabbard (later models have a
brass throat) is in excellent condition and retains its original finish.
The bayonet is complete with its original 1937 pattern webbing frog.