WW2 AUSTRALIAN MK1 PARATROOPERS MACHETE BAYONET 1944 WITH REMNANTS OF SCABBARD
This is indeed a rare find and the second one of these this year. From the limited research that I have these machete bayonets were produced in 1944 at the small arms factory at Lithgow for the Australian Army and to be used by parachutists and other designated units and could be used as a bayonet, machete or entrenching tool. Only a few thousand were made and very few actually issued to combat troops. The production was halted at the end of WW2 and they were deemed unnecessary. Many would have been destroyed before being issued. They are so rare that they have been replicated with many of the replicas sold as original.
This example is an original and has seen combat more than likely in New Guinea. It has the Broad Arrow stamp to the blade and is stamped 3774 to the pommel. The locking press stud to the pommel is working. It comes with the original canvas scabbard that has deterioration to the end as shown in the images and supports its use in the field.
This is a rare item and is undoubtedly an original field issued and worn item.