No. 5 bayonet explained

No. 5 bayonet
Origin:United Kingdom
Is Bladed:Yes
Type:Bayonet
Used By:United Kingdom
Length:302mm
Part Length:200mm[1]

The No. 5 bayonet was the bayonet used with the No. 5 Lee-Enfield which was nicknamed the "Jungle carbine".[2] The bayonet was a blade which marked a return of the British Army to using blade type bayonets like the Pattern 1907 bayonet instead of socket bayonets such as the No. 4 bayonets used on the No. 4 Lee-Enfield.[3]

Production

There was only one variant of the No. 5 bayonet produced, which is the No. 5 Mk I bayonet.[4] During World War II Wilkinson Sword in London produced by far the most No. 5 Mk I bayonets, producing close to 190,000. Other producers were a company called Radcliffe who made 75,000, Viners of Sheffield who made 42,000 and Elkington & Co who produced close to 10,000. Post-war manufacturing was done by the Royal Ordnance Factory in Poole. It is unknown how many they produced.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bayonets Listed by Overall Length: Less Than 15.75 in. (400 mm.) . Cobb . Ralph E. . 2009 . World Bayonets.com.
  2. Web site: British No 5 Mk 1 bayonet, with scabbard . Imperial War Museums . en . 2021-08-08.
  3. Web site: British No.5 Jungle Carbine Bayonet. Wilkinson. . Bygone Blades . 2021-08-08.
  4. Web site: "Jungle Carbine" - the Lee Enfield No5 MkI Rifle . YouTube . en . 2021-08-08.