British experimental x2 e1 bayonet

[Paratrooper]

shok_yikes:This is one of my other additions recently.
It is the Experimental X2 E1 bayonet on trial with the British Army in 1954.

This was to fit the F.N. F.A.L. Rifle the British were testing out. It was a change from a bolt action rifle(The Lee Enfiels No4 .303) to a Semi Automatic/Automatic 7.62mm Calibre Rifle.

The Belgians claim it was the British who added the prongs to the bayonet.
Th British did not approve the F.N. but designed the L1A1 SLR based on the F.N. F.A.L. but could only fire Semi Automatic hence it was known as the S.L.R. A great rifle served me well in the Falklands in 1982.

The bayonet was also modified to the X4 E1 which looked similar to the bayonet which was designated L1A1 to fit on the S.L.R>

These X2 E1 bayonets are scarce as a lot of them were destroyed.

Regards

Jim

[lithgow]

Hello-the prongs were part of a flash hider/disperser for the rifle-the later models had various integrated types at the muzzle-I have a commercial export FN model bayo with black plastic grips but otherwise similar.

[Paratrooper]

Hello-the prongs were part of a flash hider/disperser for the rifle-the later models had various integrated types at the muzzle-I have a commercial export FN model bayo with black plastic grips but otherwise similar.

Cheers Lithgow!
The Argies in 82 had the same bayonet with the black plastic handle.
You can see one in my other post "My Personal War Souvenirs"

Regards

Jim:

Remeber,
If the Enemy is in Range..Then so are YOU!

[jimpy]

Cheers Lithgow!
The Argies in 82 had the same bayonet with the black plastic handle.
You can see one in my other post "My Personal War Souvenirs"

Regards

Jim:

Remeber,
If the Enemy is in Range..Then so are YOU!

Or, as my old serjeant-major used to say when doing bayonet practice......."If you're close enough to use a bayonet, you're too f*cking close!"

Nice bayonet BTW Jim. I havent seen one of those for donkey's years mate.

Regards etc

Ian D

AKA: Jimpy

[lithgow]

Some of the X2E1 bayos were sent to Australia for trials as the FN FAL rifle programme was a joint exercise with other C'wlth countries adopting the same weapon-these days all the major ex empire countries use various different rifles in 5.56mm-the trials bayos are found here but are rare, and valuable when they do turn up.