Australian Owen gun bayonet for review
Article about: Hello all, Here are some photos of my latest acquisition, an Australian Owen gun bayonet which is a copy of the P1907 with a shorter blade. I'd never really considered getting one of these b
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Almost an insult to an already butt ugly gun, to add that heavy bayonet instead of a spike, thus making the Owen nose heavy to boot.
Dont know about the TF marking, but Mangrovite is the Mangrovite Belting Ltd. leather company.
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I have to agree that it wasn't the prettiest of guns but it was cheap and reliable. I guess they didn't want to spend the money re tooling the arsenals to make a spike.
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Yeah, the Owen worked just fine and having the mag on top versus sticking out to the side must have been a boon for jungle warfare. From what I gather, the users like the thing just fine.
That they didnt want to tool up for a spike might have been a reason. Or maybe they didnt want to convert or adapt current spike bayonets already in inventory - didnt the Aussies use the Smelly no.4 spike bayonet?
(though that of course was not the most popular of bayonets, I would find that more suitable for the Owen, but then I havent wielded a spike bayonet on a rifle only a 'conventional' bayonet)
Last edited by Scout; 11-16-2013 at 09:09 AM.
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To the best of my knowledge Australia stuck with the SMLE MkIII and didn't produce the No.4 rifle and therefore no spike bayonets. The spike probably would make a better SMG bayonet but then you're left with a bayonet without a handle which doesn't have any additional uses when not fixed.
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Great addition Alex, very good condition as well. they are a must for Australian bayonet collectors.
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Nice pick up and in great nick too!! The TF is just the inspectors stamp from the factory.
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Thanks guys for your comments. I like the look of the Lancaster, I guess because it reminds me of the MP18. It does look top heavy with the bayonet attached. IMO the Madsen is one ugly gun. It kind of reminds me of something out of a 60's sci fi movie.
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I like the Lancaster for the same German inspired lines.
Small wonder, that they look alike, for the Lancaster is....lets say 'heavily inspired' by the very nice MP28 which had its roots in the MP18
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