British, Mid–Late 1940s, No.7 Mk I/L Swivel Pommel Bayonet Fighting Knife by ROF Poole, with Scabbard and Webbing Frog

*British, Mid–Late 1940s, No.7 Mk I/L Swivel Pommel Bayonet Fighting Knife, by ROF Poole, with Scabbard and Webbing Frog*

A very good condition example of the scarce and short-lived No.7 Mk I/L bayonet, one of the most distinctive British post-war designs. The ricasso is stamped “No7 Mk1/L” on the obverse, with the dispersal code “P” on the reverse, confirming manufacture at the Royal Ordnance Factory, Poole. Only around 30,000 Poole-made examples were produced, compared with 100,000 from Newport, making this a sought-after variant. The No.7 was conceived as a hybrid bayonet and fighting knife, featuring a swivelling pommel to fit both the Lee-Enfield No.4 rifle and the Sten Mk V submachine gun. The “L” designation signifies Land Service. The blade is of the clip-point pattern used on the No.5 Jungle Carbine bayonet, measuring 20.2 cm with an overall length of 31.2 cm, and the grips are of Paxolin resin-impregnated composite with finger grooves to aid handling.

Historical Note:
The No.7 Mk I/L was introduced in the closing stages of the Second World War and remained in service into the late 1940s. Its design was intended to replace the unpopular No.4 spike bayonet, while adopting the favoured clip-point blade of the No.5 bayonet, and to serve a dual role as bayonet and fighting knife. In practice, the design proved overly complex and costly to produce. Although capable of mounting to the No.4 rifle, it was never issued for combat use with that weapon because the socket and crosspiece obstructed the path of the .303 cartridge when fired. As such, its use on the rifle was confined to ceremonial purposes. The No.7 therefore saw its only true service use with the Sten Mk V. In total, 176,000 examples were produced by four manufacturers: BSA, Elkington, ROF Poole, and ROF Newport.

*Condition*
This example is in very good condition, with the blade showing light service wear, age patina, and traces of original finish. The Paxolin grips are solid and complete, with no cracks and only minor handling marks. The swivelling pommel and release catch remain intact and fully functional. The steel scabbard displays an honest aged patina with surface oxidation from service use. The accompanying khaki webbing frog is strong and complete, with only minor fraying. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.

RQMAHOXBBE_4775211961