Ok, Which bayonet will REALLY fit on my Enfield?

[Deer Hunter]

I've got an Ishapore Enfield from AIM (back when they did the SA battlepack + gun sale), and I'm really happy with it. However, when I went to buy a bayonet, I tried to make sure that I got the right one. Having bought a bayonet for my FAL and it not fit before, I Was nervous. However, I still messed up it seems. I bought the Enfield #1 MKIII Bayonet from SOG, and it doesn't fit. The ring is too small and not far enough. Same with the locking device.

So, should have I gotten the .S. WWII Remington P14/17 Bayonet instead? It seems like this one's ring is set out more, which leads me to believe it could work. Too bad it costs around $30 more.

The site I purchased my first bayonet from was http://www.southernohiogun.com/nondeal.htm If I'm still not on the right track, someone please help me out. My gun needs a blade.

Enfield #1 bayonet:

P14/17 bayonet:

 

[Detachment Charlie]

A Little Help Here

I also have an AIM Ishapore and love the thing. Great shooter. Not a tack driver, butit wasn't built to be one.
Since I got it I understand the statement about WWI rifles of the combatant countries:
"The Germans made a target rifle.
The Americans made a hunting rifle.
The British made a battle rifle."

So, how about some info on a bayonet to finish off this great gun? Please.

 

[dmftoy1]

I think you might have a bit better luck asking the question over on http://www.enfield-rifles.com . . .there appear to be a few experts on these things (including the bayonets) over there. FWIW

Have a good one,
Dave

 

[greatmoose]

The Enfield #1 should work just fine. I've got one on my Ishy, and it fits fine, if a little tight.

 

[Mk VII]

It's just a tolerance stack-up. The armourer would have either filed the ring a little larger, or just chosen another one.

 

[Deer Hunter]

My 1917 Remington enfield bayonet wont fit on my Ishy, that's all I know. I may buy a jungle bayonet for it one day, but it's not high on my list right now.

 

[MD_Willington]

The bayo for the SMLE I had looked like nothing more than a steel rod with a point at the end...

 

[Deer Hunter]

Well, I think those are kinda boring, so I was looking for a nice big 17" blade model. However, I can't find one that'll fit my Ishy.

 

[.45&TKD]

I have the AIM Ishapore Enfield 2a and the SOG Enfield #1 MKIII Bayonet for it.

It fits. But, it is a tight fit because of the thick black paint on the rifle.

I plan to take off all the black paint when I have time and I expect it to fit better when I do.

 

[SMLE]

The Ishy 2As and 2A1s use the same bayonet as the #1 MkIII/III*. The 1917/P14 Bayonet has a longer stand off on the muzzle ring and won't fit the bayonet boss on the SMLE nose cap. Sometimes SMLE bayonets need a little fitting to some rifles.

The spike bayonet MD_Willington describes soulds like the #4 MkII. The #4 rifle is NOT an SMLE.

 

[kBob]

Detachment Charlie,

It's
"In World War I:
Germans made the best hunting rifle,
Americans made the best target rifle,
and Brits made the best battle rifle."

The M98 has been the basis of more than a few hunting rifles since its appearence

The 1903 Springfield could shoot rings around both the M98 and SMLE, it was mechanically more accurate, perhaps because of its ammunition, and more accurte in use because of the adjustable sights which allowed the establishment of a better zero than either of the other rifles.

The folks that coined the phrases mainly atribute the ten shot magazine, cock on closing bolt, and robusts sights and sight guards as reasons for naming the Smelly the best battle rifle.

I think it interesting that the British designed and American Tweaked US Model1917 is so seldom brought up.

It combined the .30-06 cartridge and American manufacturing with a British design that used a modified "German" M93 action reloaded with German designed Mauser stype stripper clips.( some British writers during the development of the original P13 (designation for the 7mm model that was to replace all SMLEs) sometimes refered to it as "the Mauser type rifle") It's sights were better than either the Mauser or Smelly and more robust than the Springfields. Just because Alvin York did not like them does not make them worse sights than on the Springfield either.

Of the WWI rifles for use on the battlefield as "best rifle" the M1917 aught to be considered in the light that it combined many features of the other three rifles in an effective way.

-Bob Hollingsworth

 

[daniel (australia)]

The Ishapore rifles - Lee-Enfields not "Enfields" - are simply a variant of the SMLE, and made for the selfsame Patt. '07 bayonet as English or Australian SMLEs. In fact Patt. '07 bayonets were turned out in large numbers by the Indians at Ishapore (marked RFI) and a few other plants, just as we made them at Lithgow and Orange.

After about 1926 the Indians produced a number of local variants with shorter blades and simplified features for cheaper manufacture, but designed to fit on the same bayonet boss and lug, so if you wanted an authentic match for a post 1926 Ishapore SMLE you could keep a look out for one of these, but (perhaps with a little bit of fettling) any Patt. '07 should fit.

 

[daniel (australia)]

kbob

To add to your post, it is a matter of some irony that the reason the British designed the P '13 was largely due to how dissatisfied they'd been with the performance of the Lee Enfield against the Boers (and how impressed they'd been with the Boers' 7mm Mausers). Like a lot of military hardware however it was designed for the war just past, as a rifle with even better reach for the sort of long range engagements which typified much of the South African experience. Hastily modified to .303 and later .30/06 it did perform creditably in WWI though, and was pumped out in huge numbers. Incidentally far more Model 17s were issued to US soldiers in WWI than Springfields.

 

[Detachment Charlie]

Thanks

Gentlemen:
Thank you for your expertise and proving what I feared: SMLEs are an addicting interest.

 

[JP Morgan]

I recently acquired a 2A 1968 .308 Ishapore with what looks like an unshot bore. Then while stumbling thru a Gun Store in Houston came across a 12" Bayonet with the: Crown
G.R.I.
MK II° (the ° is actually a "star")
5 42
RFI

The other side has the following proof marks:
IS 218
?G IS
283 225
It fits perfectly on the 2A. The Gun Store said that it is definitely the correct bayonet for the 2A. So these bayonets are out there. Oh, BTW, that was the only 2A bayonet they had.

 

[Cannonball888]