Lee-Enfield No. 4 spike bayonet combat use

A

albertacowboy

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I have seen many notes about the lack of suitablility of this bayonet for tasks such as opening cans and ammo crates, but does anyone have any links to solid information about the combat effectiveness of the LE No. 4 spike bayonet when actually used as a weapon on the rifle? I realize that by WWII the frequency of bayonet fighting was low, but this is a question that has always puzzled me.

Many thanks,
Albertacowboy
Edmonton
 
No links, but I’ve never heard anyone diminish the efficiency of the spike, or the screwdriver shape, as inferior to a blade.
It was a bit short though.
 
It is almost guaranteed that British troops used their spike bayonets in combat, but you'll have to read a whole lot of histories to pluck out the odd sentences that address your question.

If the order is given to fix bayonets, the situation is very grim already. Was the enemy killed by butt stroke? by barrel jab? by pick axe impact? by helmet rim? or by actual bayonet penetration?
 
maple_leaf_eh said:
It is almost guaranteed that British troops used their spike bayonets in combat, but you'll have to read a whole lot of histories to pluck out the odd sentences that address your question.

If the order is given to fix bayonets, the situation is very grim already. Was the enemy killed by butt stroke? by barrel jab? by pick axe impact? by helmet rim? or by actual bayonet penetration?
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Sharpened E tool...
 
I remember reading something about this a long time ago, that the specification for the new rifle and bayonet called for the bayo to (specifically) penetrate German greatcoats, and that was in the '30s. Someone was thinking ahead.

Not sure if this had anything to do with the shape of the spike.
 
x westie said:
Wasn’t the No.4 rifle with the L type 2 position aperture rear sight, 300 yard and 600 yard supposed to be used with the bayonet fixed
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"Small Arms Training Pamphlet Number 3 Rifle 1942" re No4 "at all ranges up to 300 yards the bayonet will be fixed"
 
Interestingly, when the No4 spike bayonet was developed, the important criteria was that it would penetrate German greatcoats. It was also judged handier in bayonet fighting than the longer sword bayonet.
 
purple said:
Interestingly, when the No4 spike bayonet was developed, the important criteria was that it would penetrate German greatcoats. It was also judged handier in bayonet fighting than the longer sword bayonet.
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probably didn't get stuck in the enemies rib cage
 
polaris said:
probably didn't get stuck in the enemies rib cage
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The drill (for the C1) was to fire a round if a bayonet is stuck to dislodge, I always wondered why bother getting all stabby instead of just putting a round into the guy in the first place.


This classic vid still breaks me up, sort of has a Monty Python vibe going on.
 
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