Orange Factory & Lithgow Marked SHORT VERSION, ALL MATCHING DATES WW2 1944, Australian, Orange Factory & Lithgow Antique & Militaria

RARE, SHORT VERSION, ALL MATCHING DATES WW2 1944, Australian, Orange Factory & Lithgow Marked, 1907 Pattern MK 1 Owen Sub Machine Gun Bayonet And 'Mangrovite 44' Scabbard. BAYO 429 - BAYO 429

When the Australian Owen SMG was introduced into service in 1941 it was not fitted to take a bayonet. In 1944 the decision was made to add a suitable bracket so that a bayonet could be mounted. The bayonets, a shortened version of the 1907 Pattern British bayonet with 10" blade were manufactured at the Orange Rifle Factory No. 3, Orange, New South Wales and by Lithgow, Appox 600 bayonets were made with Shorter 8" blades (see Skennerton item A14 pages 278 & 279). This WW2 example of the MK 1 'Short Version' 8" bladed, Owen SMG bayonet is in excellent condition. It is stamped on the ricasso 'MA'(Lithgow manufacturer) '1907' (Pattern) & '10 44' (October 1944) together with number '1' (Mark 1). The reverse is stamped 'X' (Government Acceptance mark) and 'OA' (Orange Factory) and War Dept arrow. The slab wood grips are stamped by the manufacturer, "SLAZ 44", (Slazengers (Australia) Pty. Ltd Sydney 1944). The bayonet is complete with original brown leather, steel mounted scabbard. The chape is marked “OA”. The leather of the scabbard is stamped with a letter 'M' (Mangrovite Belting Ltd, Australia). Price includes UK delivery. BAYO 429.

£495.00