| No. 4 "Spike"
Technical data : Total length : 254 mm Was used on : SMLE No. 4
General information : In 1939, with the adoption of the No. 4 MK I bayonet, the British army returned to the roots of the bayonet. The No. 4 was a socket bayonet fitted with a “blade” with the form of a spike. Due to that somewhat awkward form the British soldiers soon called it the “pig sticker”.Singer Manufacturing produced all specimens of the first model, which featured 4 grooves in the spike. This world famous American manufacturer of sewing machines produced the No. 4 Mk. I bayonets in its factory in Clydebank, Scotland. When the British army suddenly needed millions of rifles and bayonets to supply to their soldiers during the first stage of the Second World War, solutions were searched to simplify the design and production of the No. 4 bayonet. As a result the No. 4 MKII bayonet, which lacks the 4 grooves in the blade, was adopted in 1940. Some 3 million pieces of this model were made. A further simplification led to the adoption of the No. 4 MKII*. This bayonet was no longer made of one piece but consisted of 2 separate parts, the socket and the spike, which were welded together. All of the about one million pieces were manufactured in Great-Britain. The last version of the No. 4 bayonet was introduced in 1943 and is known as the No. 4 MKIII. This model clearly shows how the lack of raw materials forced the industry to come up with ideas that could minimize the use of steel. The new mark III consisted of 7 sheath steel parts that were welded together and onto a spike. All 196000 of these No. 4 MKIII bayonets were made by Joseph Lucas Ltd. in Birmingham. For about 4000 of these that company used recycled blades of the very rare Sten SMG bayonet. These very rare bayonets can be recognised by the “L” stamped on the blade. Because the differences between the No. 4 MK I and the much rarer (and therefore much more expensive!) No. 4 MKII are limited, several dishonest people have attempted to convert the MKII into MK I’s by adding 4 grooves. Although it didn’t have a cutting edge, No. 4 bayonet could seriously injure an opponent. To make it usable without being placed on the rifle the British added a bayonet lug to the handle of their entrenching tool. Just like there are several versions of the No. 4 bayonet, there exist various models of scabbards. The first pattern consisted of a conical metal tube with a ball finial. Through that ball a small hole was drilled to allow any water to get out of the scabbard. The second model was a straight metal tube, which was much easier to manufacture than the conical tube. It was no longer closed by a ball finial but by a screw fit plug. A plastic version of this MKII scabbard exists. Another model is the 100% molded plastic scabbard which was developed and made by the American Victory Plastics. Known makers : Baird Engineering Co., Northern Ireland Images.
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