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Australian experimental Bayonet Austen SMG


Capt.Case
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Hello , just picked up this bayonet at a flea market and have searched the internet with no success .  Was wondering if anyone knows what is goes on and what Country.  It has a heavy  solid metal handle. It measures 11 3/8" long overall and has a 6 1/2" inch blade. Blade is blued and double edge.  Handle is painted an OD green.  I see no markings on it.

 

Thank you, Capt. Case

unk bayo 1.jpg

unkbayo2.jpg

unk bayo butt.jpg

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Thank you very much. I could not find it in any of my books probably because it was only experimental.  I will do some more research now that you have identified it for me. Thanks again!

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Wow! Thank Bob,  who would have known. I stumbled upon it at a flea market over the weekend and liked the feel. Since I never saw one before I bought it.  Kudo's to member qed4 for knowing what it is.  

 

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3 minutes ago, Capt.Case said:

Kudo's to member qed4 for knowing what it is

 

Yes - that's an obscure bit of information. I looked through worthpoint.com for sales of these, but could not find any, which is not surprising.

 

I found this which shows that there were only 200 of the guns produced, so maybe there were eveb fewer bayonets:

 

"This gun is the experimental Mk II trials pattern, of which around 200 were produced in 1942. It features a two-piece receiver - a fluted extension of which replaces the Sten-type barrel nut of the Mk I. It also has a bayonet lug and a unique combat-knife bayonet was created for use with it."

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Great to know.  I wonder if the bayonet was made by the same maker as the gun. I see no markings on it.  Thanks for checking worthpoint.   Who could say about the value, I guess the person with the gun would really be the one to want it.

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This is for the Austen Mk II which was produced too late for WWII service: it was adopted AND declared obsolete at the same time. It has the bayonet lug which the Mk I did not::
 

Screen Shot 2020-07-20 at 1.01.07 PM.png

 

 

Here's a video about the Austen SMG  - it's from the Royal Armouries National Firearms Centre collection but they don't have the bayonet.

 

 

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Sure does look that way! Thank you Mikie.   Just need to find someone who owns the gun and wants the bayonet to go with it.

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  • 1 month later...

G.day Capt Case,

 

I know a military museum in Australia who would be very interested in the Austen bayonet if it is still available

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  • 7 months later...

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