Bishop & Miller Auctioneers Ltd
Lot 135
Selection of British No.4 Spike Bayonets starting with the Scarce No.4 Mk1 Cruciform Spike Bayonet, socket marked with royal cypher, 'No.4 Mk 1' and 'S M' for Singer Manufacturing, held in steel Mk1 scabbard, complete with webbing frog, No.4 MkII Spike Bayonet, forged from a single block of metal it was cheaper to produce then the Mk1 Cruciform, release catch marked 'N67', held in scarce No.4 MkII scabbard, No.4 MkII* Spike Bayonet, marked to the socket marked 'No4 Mk II*' and 'N30', held in Victory Plastics No.4 MkII scabbard with integral webbing frog, this mark was a further attempt to streamline production with two parts brazed together (vendor states this bayonet was purchased directly from the collector and author Anthony Carter), No.4 MkIII Spike Bayonet, crudely made at minimum cost and known as the 'Blacksmiths wonder', held in rare all plastic No.4 MkIII scabbard (vendor states this bayonet was purchased directly from the collector and author Anthony Carter), these four items represent the evolution of the No.4 Spike Bayonet as attempts were made to both speed up and reduce the cost of production (4), (Part of the Philip Bowes collection)
