BSA Bayonet

The No7 MkI Land service bayonet was designed in 1944. A grand total of 176,000 were produced. The design was perfected by the Wilkinson Sword Co., who produced 1,000 bayonets in 1944. Mass production was carried out by four other makers from 1945 until 1948. These four makers and their production figures were: Birmingham Small Arms Ltd. - 25,000; Elkington & Co. Ltd. Birmingham - 20,000; Royal Ordinance Factory, Poole – 30,000 and Royal Ordinance Factory, Newport – 100,000.

The design was intended to be a universal one for use with the rifle or the Sten MKV sub machine gun. The spike bayonet for the No4 Lee Enfield rifle was only good for killing or opening cans of condensed milk! The troops desired a bayonet which looked better and could also be used for a variety of other purposes. A new bayonet, the No5 MKI which had been designed for the No5 Jungle Carbine had proved popular and formed the basis for the design work for the No7 bayonet. The design was a clever combination of the fittings from the two. By pressing a catch, the knife could also convert from a bayonet to a fighting knife. However, after an accident with a .303 round hitting the muzzle ring the bayonet was only issued to troops armed with the Sten V. However, it did continue to see ceremonial service fitted to the No4 rifle. As can be seen the blade is a "Bowie" style in bright steel. The grips were generally a red bakelite but could also be found in black as this one is. Marked to the pommel with ‘M47A’ which denotes manufacture by Birmingham Small Arms Ltd. The scabbard and frog are in good order, with the frog being dated ‘1943’. See page 243 of Skennerton for reference. The price includes UK delivery. BAYO 399.