Description

Australian Prototype Owen Gun knife bayonet by Lysaght in 1942 – Camo painted hilt and wooden slab grips. A rare item showing very little wear and no damage. Grips are marked/ stamped OWEN 9MM over LYSAGHT AUSTRALIA to the right hand grip. As previously mentioned in another item for sale, G.S. Wardell, Designer and Chief Engineer at the Lysaght Works, produced 20 copies of two soft covered book volumes in 1985 entitled:

1. THE DEVELOPMENT AND MANUFACTURE OF THE OWEN GUN and
2. THE OWEN GUN, AN ANALYSIS OF EVENTS

The two volumes I have (20 copies only ever produced) are Wardell’s own copies and signed by him. Also in the Australian War Memorial are at least three examples of bayonets,  Two photos are included for reference along with photos of the item for sale and the links to the AWM website are as follows:

1. https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/awm-media/collection/REL31074.002/screen/3845417.JPG
2. https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/awm-media/collection/RELAWM30622.010/screen/3828465.JPG

With the early bayonets you will note that the false edge to the top of the blade is quite long whilst in the later types it is short. The blade in this example has the short false edge and is in excellent condition.

There is a YouTube video (link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYYROvqmr-w ) on the `Owen machine carbine and bayonet. The video was produced at the Australian Army Infantry Museum, Lone Pine Barracks, Singleton NSW. Note that the museum does not have a scabbard, they are very rare items.

The scabbard with this bayonet is super rare. It is the normal brown leather but as with the later types has seven rivets. The leather has a ribbed texture and is painted in a gloss camo paint that gives it a plastic feel. The scabbard is showing some wear but is complete and undamaged. This bayonet and scabbard was originally from the collection of Major E. J. (Ted) Millett who had an extensive army career that culminated as the head of Australian Army Ordnance.

The majority of these bayonets were part of a consignment sent for destruction in the late 1950’s at Port Kembla with only a small number surviving today.

(Reference BCB A15).

** SOLD ** December 2025