~ British Jungle Carbine/No4 Lee Enfield/Sten SMG Bayonet Model No.7 MK I ~
The No. 7 Mk. I/L was a very innovative and complex design, with a unique swiveling pommel. Part knife bayonet and part socket bayonet, the No. 7 Mk. I/L would mount to the Lee Enfield No. 4 rifle and the Mk. V Sten submachine gun.
The No. 7 Mk. I/L (number seven, mark one, land service) was intended to address a number of desires: first to replace the No. 4 spike bayonet (that nobody liked), second to utilize the clip-point blade of the No. 5 Mk. I bayonet (that everybody liked); and also to serve a dual role as a fighting knife.
176,000 No. 7 Mk. I/L bayonets 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 manufacturers from 1945–1948:
Birmingham Small Arms, Ltd. —25,000;
Elkington & Co. Ltd., Birmingham —20,000;
Royal Ordnance Factory, Poole —30,000; and,
Royal Ordnance Factory, Newport —100,000.
This example was produced by BSA.
The ricasso is marked “No. 7 Mk. I/L” and broad arrow. The pommel is tamped “M–78” and broad arrow proof mark.
~ Condition ~
The piece is missing its grips but otherwise is in perfect condition.
~ Dimensions ~
The overall length: 310 mm,
Blade length: 200 mm,
Blade wide: 24 mm,
Internal diameter of the tube: 15.5 mm.
PQI0#10943