The No. 9 Mk. I bayonet was the culmination of a post-war desire to replace the No. 4 spike bayonet. The first attempt to do so resulted in the innovative No. 7 Mk. I/L bayonet. With the War Department's decision not to issue the No. 7 Mk. I/L bayonet with the .303 caliber Lee-Enfield No. 4 rifle, there remained a strong desire to replace the No. 4 spike bayonet. The No. 9 Mk. I was a much simpler, utilitarian affair, with a sturdy socket pinned to the clip-point blade design of the No. 5 Mk. I bayonet. Because the No. 9 Mk. I blade was closely patterned on the No. 5 Mk. I bayonet, the No. 5 scabbard was retained for use with the No. 9 Mk. I bayonet. Production commenced in 1947, even before the No. 9 Mk. I was officially approved. (They couldn't off the No. 4 Spike soon enough!).

The No. 9 Mk. I bayonet was also used by South Africa. Indigenous versions of the No. 9 bayonet were produced in Pakistan and South Africa.

Britain—Royal Ordnance Factory, Poole

Approximately 200,000 No. 9 Mk. I bayonets were produced at the Royal Ordinance Factory, Poole from 1947-1949. The Poole bayonets are the earliest documented production of the No. 9 Mk. I bayonet. Poole's maker mark is a letter "P" inside a circle, followed by the year of manufacture. The bayonet pictured was made in 1949 at ROF Poole.

Britain—Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield

Production was transferred to the Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield in 1949. 366,902 No. 9 Mk. I bayonets were made at RSAF Enfield between 1949-1956, with an additional 10,000 produced in 1962. The Enfield maker mark is a superimposed "ED", followed by a two-digit year of manufacture. The bayonet pictured below was made at RSAF Enfield in 1954.

The "PF" serialized No. 9 Mk. I bayonets were packed with post-war Lee-Enfield No. 4 rifles produced at the ROF Fazakerly for export to foreign countries. The PF number corresponds to the rifle's serial number. This example's serial number is part of the Irish Contract for No. 4 Mk. II rifles that was never delivered.

Britain—Private Contractors

In addition to ROF Poole and RSAF Enfield, three private firms are believed to have manufactured small quantities of the No. 9 Mk. I bayonet. The bayonets are marked on the ledge, with the maker's dispersal code and the broad arrow. Some have a single letter on the blade, near the socket join (viewer's mark?). The makers are believed to be:

• G. Buggins & Co. Ltd. of Redditch.
• Francis & Barnett Ltd. of Coventry.
• Byfords Ltd. of West Bromwitch.

Little is known of this production. The number of known examples are very few. The use of dispersal codes suggests manufacture likely occurred early in the post-war period, perhaps even prior to production commencing at ROF Poole. However, this is speculation.

Francis & Barnett Ltd

The bayonet pictured was made by Francis & Barnett Ltd. The finish quality is not up to the standard of the government factories. Francis & Barnett were a maker of motorcycles.

Byfords Ltd.

Unique Double-Marked Example

This is the only known No. 9 Mk. I bayonet bearing the dispersal codes of both Francis & Barnett and Byfords Ltd. This bayonet is crudely made, cruder than any other No. 9 Mk. I bayonet that I have observed. The socket has rough forging marks, much like some wartime No. 4 Mk. II* sockets used by Prince-Smith. The blade is both pinned and (rather sloppily) brazed to the socket. The existence of this example is a complete mystery. Perhaps, it is a prototype. Hopefully further research findings will reveal its significance.