WW2 AUSTRALIAN MK1 PARATROOPERS MACHETE BAYONET 1944
This is indeed a rare find. 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 use. It has the Broad Arrow stamp to the blade and is stamped 4575 to the pommel. There is SLAZ 44 stampings to the wood handle grips. The bayonet is in excellent condition and retains most of its original bluing. It comes with the original canvas scabbard that has deteriorated and has some field repair as shown in the images and supports its use in the field The scabbard is also date stamped 1944.
This is a rare item and is undoubtedly an original issued and worn item.