Sold-British No.9 MK.1 Bayonet w/Frog . BAYO730

British No.9 MK.1 Bayonet with Frog. Marked on side of bayonet: NO9 MK1 D-54 (Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield and dated 1954). Also, has British broad arrow mark, PF and serial number. Blade approximately 8 inches in length. Worn condition.

Additional Notes: The No. 9 Mk. I bayonet has an interesting history. It represents the culmination of a post-war desire to replace the No. 4 spike bayonet. The first attempt to do so resulted in the innovative No. 7 Mk. I/L bayonet. With the War Department’s decision not to issue the No. 7 Mk. I/L bayonet with the .303 caliber Lee-Enfield No. 4 rifle, there remained a strong desire to replace the No. 4 spike bayonet. Compared to the elaborate No. 7 Mk. I/L, he No. 9 Mk. I was a much simpler, utilitarian affair, with a sturdy socket pinned to the clip-point blade of the No. 5 Mk. I bayonet. Because the No. 9 Mk. I blade was closely patterned on the No. 5 Mk. I bayonet, the No. 5 scabbard was retained for use with the No. 9 Mk. I bayonet. Production commenced in 1947, even before the No. 9 Mk. I was officially approved.

Production was transferred to the Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield in 1949. 366,902 No. 9 Mk. I bayonets were made at RSAF Enfield between 1949–1956, with an additional 10,000 produced in 1962. The Enfield maker mark is a superimposed “ED”, followed by a two-digit year of manufacturer. The “PF” serialized No. 9 Mk. I bayonets were packed with post-war Lee-Enfield No. 4 rifles produced at the ROF Fazakerly for export to foreign countries. The PF number corresponds to the rifle’s serial number.

See Additional Information for shipping dimensions.