Australian Vietnam War SLR L1A2 Bayonet & No.5 Mk.II Scabbard

Description:

Australian Vietnam War SLR L1A2 Bayonet & No.5 Mk.II Scabbard .

This is a very good and early production example of the L1A2 Bayonet manufactured by Lithgow after February 1959 to equip the Australian Army's L1A1 SLR. This rifle was the standard Australian Assault Rifle between 1959 and 1991. They were employed by Australian forces in all the campaigns undertaken between those dates most notably in Vietnam.

There are no production markings visible on this bayonet, which is normal, as in Australian production code numbers were deleted as of the 10th February 1959. This bayonet was therefore manufactured at Lithgow after that date.

This is an early Australian SLR L1A2 Bayonet in very good original condition produced by Lithgow: steel hilt with a shaped steel press stud and internal spring, two-piece steel grips, secured by two rivets, straight steel crossguard with muzzle ring and short quillon. Single edged fullered steel blade with curved false top edged Bowie blade.
The Pat. 37 frog was blackened, as was the web belt, circa 1960.

You will not find a better example of one of these increasingly sought after bayonets anywhere.

The bayonet came with a .303 rifle I purchased from the Morpeth Gun Club circa 1974. It has never been used other than removing the blade and replacing it in the scabbard a number of times.
Buyer to pay postage and prove they are over 18 years old.