Irish made English No.4 MK II* socket bayonet by Baird of Belfast + leather securing tab. (ABCN34)(K4)(JN61-1)
Enfield 303. No.4 rifle. Serial number: 24890 and 50 on socket. Excellent blued socket with bright finished round blade made from two pieces. Blade is fixed with a pin. Socket is marked with a faint Irish makers trademark: No.4 MKII* over BEC inside an oval.(= Baird Engineering Company, Belfast, Northern Ireland, Dispersal code: N96) and 58. There is a viewer mark: Crown over IG over 26. (Not an Indian ownership marking!).The reverse of the socked is marked 2.
Excellent blued No.4 MK1 scabbard with a zinc (Mazak) throat. No dents.
Comes with a green webbing frog with retaining strap and a rare brown leather/ brass securing tab (AC163). Frog has a hard to read stamp on the reverse side. M.C. & Co. /I\19??
The highly collectible No.4 MkII* bayonets by Baird were known for their fine finish, the spike blade was steel pinned rather than welded to the socked.
Baird Engineering of Belfast only made a total of 75.000 No.4 MKII* spike bayonets . The same number (or somewhat more) as No.4 MK1 cruciform blade bayonets were made by Singer.
