*British Army L2A1/SA80 Bayonet with Bowie type blade. Complete with scabbard with wire cutter, sharpening stone and saw blade.*
The L2A1/SA80 was adopted by the British Army in 1985 as a replacement for the well-established L1A1 (FN–FAL) rifle. By the time production ceased in 1994, approximately 350,000 units had been manufactured. These SA80 rifles drew heavily from the mechanical design of the Armalite AR–18, a weapon that the Irish Republican Army had effectively used against British forces.
The bayonet designed for the SA80 Rifle is constructed entirely from steel and features a hollow, ribbed hilt that fits snugly over the muzzle of the 5.56 mm NATO caliber SA80 Rifle. This bayonet is a one-piece forging, and its blade is intentionally set off-center to allow the hilt to encircle the rifle’s muzzle. The hilt is painted black, while the blade remains in its natural steel color. The blade includes a serrated edge and a wire-cutter feature. 17cm blade. 27cm overall.
The L2A1 scabbard is composed of plastic and includes a wire-cutter, a fold-out saw blade, and a sharpening stone. This scabbard can be inserted into an over-scabbard, which is essentially a full-length belt frog. It is secured to the frog using a fastex connector.
Initially, these bayonets were designed to function as an all-purpose tool for soldiers, often referred to as the “Every man Tool.” Unfortunately, they did not live up to expectations. As a result, subsequent batches of bayonet scabbards were produced without the folding saw, wire cutters, and other features, resulting in a “stripped” scabbard. The original scabbard was known to snag on various items in the field, leading to the introduction of an outer “carrier” made from canvas-like Olive Drab camouflage material over plastic, housing both the bayonet and its stripped scabbard.
Frog Bayonet
OPM IRR
Remloy R/R
1992
CN/8465-99-132-1567
SL32a/5875
*Condition*
In fine condition, heavily phosphate finished blade with black steel hilt. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.
