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Spike and Socket Bayonet for Lee Enfield No. 4
The British versions SMLE No. 1 Mk III og No. 4 Mk I of the Lee Enfield-rifle, got used by the Norwegian Brigade in Scotland during WWII. During the war it was the standard rifle in the Norwegian Army (based in Great Britain) and in the Norwegian Independent Brigade Group, BAOR (Tysklandsbrigaden) until 1952. At that time the army standardised on American weapons. It also got used by the Norwegian resistance during WWII, where the rifle was provided by air drop.
A Lee-Enfield bayonet on a user manual for the Lee-Enfield rifle. The manual was published in London in 1943. A part of the contents includes a description on how to aim with a mounted bayonet at different ranges.
Due to lack of resources, the Lee Enfield No. 4 Mk. I rifle was supplied with a short spike bayonet.
Lee Enfield No. 4 Mk. II* bayonet with scabbard
Lee Enfield No. 4 Mk. II* bayonet with older frog
In Norway it was most likely the Mk. II and Mk. II*N0.4 types that got used.
The Mk. II* bayonets was a simplified version of the earlier Mk. II bayonet. On this bayonet the socket and the blade was forged in two pieces and put together later. On the Mk. II bayonet the socket and the blad was forged in one piece.
At the top No. 4 Mk. II, No. 4 Mk. II* below
The No. 4 Mk. II N.67 on the picture above was produced by Singer Manufacturing in Clydebank Scotland. These was produced in 1.4 millions pieces. The other bayonet is a No. 4 Mk. II* L.Eng S.376. These where produced by Lewisham Engineering (S.376 was the code for the factory). Lewisham Engineering produced about 84.000 of these bayonets.
Here you will find some information about some frogs for the Lee Enfield bayonets.
Use in Denmark
The bayonet was designated M/1945 E in Denmark, and was in use there from 1946. According to Per Holmbäck it was gradually retired when the M/50 rifle was introduced.
