Dallou Posted 24 February Share Posted 24 February Picked up this bayonet, any help with the markings would be appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4thGordons Posted 24 February Share Posted 24 February (edited) WWII vintage (May 1944) Australian produced, Pattern 1907 bayonet All markings perfectly standard. Is that the same rifle as posted about previously? Edited 24 February by 4thGordons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dallou Posted 24 February Author Share Posted 24 February Thank you, yes it is the same rifle. Darrell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chasemuseum Posted 24 February Share Posted 24 February OA - Orange Arsenal. Orange is a town in central western NSW about 2 hours drive west of Lithgow. The Lithgow factory (MA) transferred most bayonet manufacture to Orange in about 1943 so the could concentrate resources on small arms manufacture. Also 8 44 is August 1944 not May. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4thGordons Posted 24 February Share Posted 24 February Thanks need to check my specs! chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shippingsteel Posted 24 February Share Posted 24 February 6 hours ago, Chasemuseum said: OA - Orange Arsenal. Orange is a town in central western NSW about 2 hours drive west of Lithgow. The Lithgow factory (MA) transferred most bayonet manufacture to Orange in about 1943 so the could concentrate resources on small arms manufacture. Also 8 44 is August 1944 not May. NOT Orange Arsenal.!! OA is the code for the Orange Annex, created as a feeder factory for Lithgow Small Arms Factory during WW2. And yes, Chris does need his glasses.! Cheers, SS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyBsk Posted 25 February Share Posted 25 February Little strange coding by Australia, do You have explanation of the MA marking as some sources in internet says its Mangrovite Arsenal? OA was on many places too declared as Orange Arsenal, should be cleared probably. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peregrinvs Posted 25 February Share Posted 25 February MA = Munitions Australia. The telegraphic address of SAF Lithgow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyBsk Posted 25 February Share Posted 25 February Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shippingsteel Posted 25 February Share Posted 25 February Yes Andy the Internet is wrong, as is often the case. Peregrinvs is correct MA is the code for Lithgow Small Arms Factory. The code MAO was originally used for Orange but later it changed to OA. Still means the same thing ... Lithgow SAF - Orange Annex. (Orange Feeder Factory) Cheers, SS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
navydoc16 Posted 25 February Share Posted 25 February 5 hours ago, AndyBsk said: Little strange coding by Australia, do You have explanation of the MA marking as some sources in internet says its Mangrovite Arsenal? OA was on many places too declared as Orange Arsenal, should be cleared probably. SAF Lithgow was know as MA for Munitions Australia, during WW2 the acronym was also sometimes referred to as the "Main Annex" but the MA proceeded the Annex system of WW2 SAF Lithgow focused on complex machining operations and during WW2 several basic machining operations were outsourced to "feeder factories" referred to by Annex to free up factory floor space and machinery. OA - Orange Annex (Rear and front sights, sliders and blocks bayonets) - Semi complex machining and assembly FA - Forbes Annex (Rear sight blocks only) BA - Bathurst Annex (Rear sight bases, castings and action machining) WA - Wellington Annex (Rear sight sliders and Front Sight inserts) SLAZ - Slazengers (Woodwork for SMLE and Bayonets) Mangrovite - Was the manufacturer for scabbards, originally made large leather belts for heavy overhead machinery. kind regards, g Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyBsk Posted 25 February Share Posted 25 February Thanks for explanation, made its clearer now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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