Description

This AUSTRALIAN TRIALS/EXPERIMENTAL SHORTENED & LIGHTENED No.1 BAYONET appears to be very rare indeed. Where the normal Shortened & Lightened bayonets are the typical Owen blade with just the markings of OA and the bend mark on one side of the ricasso, this bayonet is devoid of any markings but what really sets it apart is the blade is actually a cutdown No1 in the configuration of the first Owen Bayonet model Mk I/I. The blade is 10.125 inches long (257mm). The bayonet also appears to have had a new release catch fitted as can be noted be the machining of the face of the pommel. The mint grips are marked with SLAZ 44 and is housed in a 1944 dated scabbard 298mm in length. Normal Owen scabbards are usually 291-292mm in length.

From the old attached tag the bayonet is from the collection of Maj. E (Ted) Millett and was issued with rifle number 28. Reference is B&CB A12.