Italian M 1891 bayonet transformed for British Lee Enfield (ABCN551)(K0)(JN0)
British Lee Enfield SMLE MK3 rifle. Serial number OS 7069 on ricasso. Crudely made blued blade with a short fuller showing some areas of very fine pitting. Excellent blued pommel and crossgard with a short quillon with ball final and a large muzzle ring MRD 17. mm. Long and wide T-slot in pommel. Excellent wooden grips riveted to the blade tang. Excellent black leather scabbard with a British Po.7 chape and brass Italian top mount, both painted black. Chape is marked M/44. All stitches intact and no dents to the fittings.
Comes with British P37 khaki frog faint dated 1940 and /|\
Total length 33,5 cm/ Scabbard length 25,5 cm.
After WWII, the UK supplied Italy with a small number of SMLE rifle, which the Italiens issued to the Italian Navy and used only for a short period.
The Italians altered their old M 1891 Carcano bayonets for use with these rifles by replacing the crossguards by one with a larger muzzle ring and coupled it with modified British Po.7 scabbards. This particular one has a significant shorter blade and scabbard than recorded.
Very rare and interesting bayonet.