Grooves on British bayonet

[Claus]

Hi folks,

some days ago a saw a picture of an actual British guardsman with the bayonet fixed on his rifle. On the blade I saw eight groves, rectangular to the edge.
What are these grooves thought for? On the picture it didn´t look like saw teeth - but the pic was not good. Similar grooves I know from butcher knives, made to slice ham very thin. But I think even British Guards do not have so many ham in their C-rats.

Thanks in advance!

Claus

 

[Silver Puss]

There are four photos of this bayonet in the December 2002 issue of Small Arms Review in the SA-80 article. The blade has 9 grooves perpendicular to the edge, extending half its length beginning at the crossguard.

The article makes no mention of the grooves or their purpose. Perhaps they prevent the bayonet from falling out of its scabbard. There also appear to be serrations where the grooves are, so maybe they do make it easier to cut soft materials. Propellant gases are vented through slots in the handle, which can get as hot as the flash suppressor during firing.

The bayonet is not nice looking, but then neither are other British knives of current military issue. I would probably buy one if they came on sale.

 

[not2sharp]

Production for this bayonet reportedly started as early as 1984. It has a 7.1 inch bowie-style blade with 8 slots (not fullers) machined into the left hand side of the blade, which when used with the scabbard act as wire cutters. There are a couple of other interesting features like a sawblade and sharpening stone built into the scabbard, and (everybody's favorite) a bottle opener built into the upper hand guard.

n2s