This bayonet was made in 1950 at Metal Industries Ltd. in Lahore, prior to establishment of the Pakistan Ordnance Factory in Wah Cantonment. M.I.L. had produced No. I Mk. II and Mk. III bayonets during the Second World War, when Lahore was still under Indian jurisdiction.

The blade profile is more rounded and the edge more crude than the British or P.O.F. No. 9 bayonets. The blade is both pinned and (rather sloppily) brazed to the socket. At the time this example was discovered, in 2016, all previously-known examples were dated 1951. Subsequent to discovery of this example, a 1949-dated example has been documented.

Discovery of 1949 and 1950-dated examples demonstrates that the shipment of production equipment from R.O.F. Poole to Pakistan took place earlier than believed.

This example is pictured and discussed in Michael Rose’s authoritative work, 17 Inches of Imperial Steel in the Service of the Raj: Sword Bayonet Pattern 1907 in Indian Service.

No. 9 Bayonets Page

Socket (right): "No 9. M.K. l" over "M.I. LTD" over "1950"

Only a small quantity of 1951-dated examples have surfaced, so production must have been low before manufacturing ceased and the factory was relocated to Wah Cantonment, away from the border with India.

Pakistan No. 9 Mk. I bayonets are occasionally found with short P1907 scabbards as a substitute for the steel No. 5 scabbard.

No. 9 Bayonets Page

Socket (right): "No 9. M.K. l" over "M.I. LTD" over "1951"

The Pakistan G3 bayonet differs from the German G3 bayonet in having an inverted, fullered clip-point blade patterned after the British No. 5 Mk. I. It has the 12–groove black plastic grip. The press catch is at the 9 O'clock position. It has the broad plain crosspiece.

In the U.S.A., these are rarely found with scabbards. The Pakistan G3 scabbard is a shorter, crude copy of the British No. 5.

Pakistan began producing G3A4 rifles under license in 1967 at the Pakistan Ordnance Factory in Wah Cantonment. This example was made there in 1969.

In 2009, British bayonet historian R.D.C. Evans published an excellent and comprehensive article on G3 bayonets that is available for download at no cost.

G3 and CETME Bayonets Page

The crosspiece is a casting. The scabbard body is also a casting, with a longitudinal seam on front and back. Both the blade and scabbard are coated in a black finish that isn't phosphate, nor is it paint.

The grip material is a rough, matte plastic, where earlier production grips were smoother and shiny.

These have been observed with dates ranging from 2005-2013. It is not clear whether these are military or made for commercial sale. This example is neither broad arrow proofed nor serial numbered like the example pictured above.

G3 and CETME Bayonets Page