The SLR rifle was the UK and Commonwealth version of the Belgian FN FAL  rifle, the main modification of which was removal of the fully automatic fire option.

Originally trailed with the FN knife bayonet the X2E1, amongst many other, the bayonet chosen for the rifle was a new knife bayonet with the bayonet blade similar to that of the No 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 bayonets used on the No4, Sterling and Sten guns. Other versions of trials blades used a double sided blade similar to the Belgian FN49, and the X2E1 without the flash hider prongs (X3E1). The No5 was used as the basis of the L1Ax series of blades. The trials version of this blade was the X4E1, this is similar to the production versions but without any markings

Versions of the blade were made by the UK, Indian, Australia and Canada

My thanks to David Adams who supplied many of the photographs below

X1E1

Trials FN bayonet  uses a thin blade similar in style to the Belgian FN49

X2E1

Trials FN bayonet, also found in a shorter blade version

X3E1

Trials FN bayonet  similar to the X2 but without the flash guard prongs

LIA1

Issued with the sheet steel scabbard of the No5 and having a brazed crossguard. Grips are marked L1A1

Later versions have a shortened screw in the pommel and it loses a hole in the pommel, post 1958

L1A2

Authorised at the same time as the L1 the main difference is that he cross guard is riveted not brazed. Mainly made in Australia (without any markings on the grips and ricasso) and Canada as the C1

Australian produced L1A2, quality of these bayonets is higher than on the UK produced items.

Seen here with the pouch mounts for the scabbard.

Sectionalised L1A2 for demonstration purposes

Courtesy Kevin Adams

L1A3

A change to a recessed lock stud necessitated a change in the pommel casting. Apparently the changes were made as there were comments on the ease of removing the bayonet with the protruding catch during use in riots and encounters with civilians (Northern Ireland?). L1A1's were modified by milling out the recess in the pommel to the new specification

A version was trialled with wooden grips (

Converted L1A1 to A3 spec the waisted cross guard is evidence of this conversion as the L1A3 had a straight sided cross guard

Dress blade form converted L1A1

New made L1A3 with straight cross guard

B61 manufactured

Courtesy Kevin Adams

D62

Courtesy Kevin Adams

D67

Courtesy Kevin Adams

L1A4

Essentially the L1A3 with a riveted rather than brazed tang, not produced till after 1970

Courtesy Kevin Adams

C1

Canadian made version of the L1A2

1957 produced parade version

Courtesy Kevin Adams

1959 produced

Courtesy Kevin Adams

1960

INDIA

Indian Version is like the L1A3 and 4 but with wooden grips, a similar version was trialled in the UK

With wrap around wooden grips this long bladed model has a L1A4 style pommel

1966 dated example

Courtesy Kevin Adams

MISC AND FROGS

Box of chromed tips for the bowie blade tipped blades, box contains 12 but has no marks on it

Fitted to a blade tip IT would effectively blunt the blade

Plastic scabbard for the L1Ax bayonets with a steel throat. This one came with a parade frog

An unfinished trials scabbard with distinctive square frog stud.

Production version of the trials scabbard, the trials versions are without markings. Apparently about 40,000 of these were made but few turn up, it is thought that most were destroyed in a warehouse fire and these are actually more rare than the actual trials ones themselves.

Note the distinctive "square" frog stud of this version