Approval date was 21st January 1945, List of Changes para C2197.
Intended for the Mk 5 Sten gun, it was though, developed with the No 4 rifle in mind.
The large muzzle ring is not a true muzzle ring when attached to a No4. It carries a No5 blade, and the unusual swivelling pommel allows use as a knife or bayonet.
No 7 Mk I /L . It was only approved for Land service hence the L suffix.
The M78 denotes manufacture by Elkington who manufactured approximately 100,000 of the type, contract date 3.2.45.
Other manufacturers were, ROF Poole, ROF Newport, and BSA (M47A).
The No7 bayonet was not widely issued and was soon superseded by the No9 bayonet although the No7 soldiered on into the 1970s with some Guards regiment bandsmen still wearing this bayonet.
The black composite grip bayonets were, so i have been told, used as parade bayonets. True or not? i dont know.
I will finish with a gratuitous shot of my weaver scoped No4 Mk II Fazakerly.
