Ronnie Kray’s menacing WWI bayonet used to enforce his reign of terror with brother Reggie across 1960s London is among notorious gangster’s gear including his prison shirt and silk cravat up for auction

• 16in lethal blade was from First World War rifle but belonged to Ronnie in 1960s
• Several personal items relating to his time in prison also being sold at auction 
• These include prison-issue towel with his surname and prisoner number on it
• His blue pin-striped shirt with ‘HM Prison Service’ label on collar is also in sale 

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A chilling bayonet that was used by gangster Ronnie Kray on his victims has been put up for auction in a seven-item sale expected to fetch more than £5,000.

The 16in lethal blade was from a First World War rifle but belonged to Ronnie during his and twin Reggie’s reign of terror in London’s East End in the 1960s.

Alongside the weapon, several personal items relating to the convicted murderer’s time in prison are also being sold at the auction on Saturday in Devizes, Wiltshire.

This 16in lethal blade was from a First World War rifle but belonged to Ronnie Kray during his and twin Reggie’s reign of terror in London’s East End in the 1960s

Other items in the sale taking place at Henry Aldridge and Son Auctioneers of Devizes, Wiltshire, include Ronnie Kray’s prison-issue towel, a silk cravat and a pair of leather shoes

His blue pin-striped shirt complete with an ‘HM Prison Service’ label on the inside collar is also in the sale

Reggie (left) and Ronnie Kray (right, pictured in 1965) and their gang were involved in armed robberies, arson, protection rackets and assaults.

The prison shirt complete with the ‘HM Prison Service’ label is expected to sell for £500

To complete the gangster look, a chunky gold bracelet the East End villain adorned on his wrist also forms the archive being sold

These include his prison-issue towel which has his surname and prisoner number written on along with the menacing words ‘Do Not Remove’.

His blue pin-striped shirt complete with an ‘HM Prison Service’ label on the inside collar is also in the sale as are a pair of his leather slip-on shoes.

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And to complete the gangster look, a chunky gold bracelet the East End villain adorned on his wrist also forms the archive being sold.

The items were given by Kray to his second wife Kate after they married in November 1989 in Broadmoor high-security psychiatric hospital.

The auctioneer said the bayonet was for a World War One Lee Enfield rifle, but ‘one can only imagine why the likes of Ronnie Kray would have had it in his possession in the 1960s’

The items were given by Kray to his second wife Kate after they married in November 1989 in Broadmoor high-security psychiatric hospital

The items were presented to her in an old tea chest by one of Kray’s associates on the outside

The items were sold in 2014 and they are now being auctioned by a private vendor in lots 

His prison-issue towel has his surname and prisoner number written on along with the menacing words ‘Do Not Remove’

They were presented to her in an old tea chest by one of Kray’s associates on the outside. She sold them in 2014 and they are now being auctioned by a private vendor in separate lots.

How Reggie and Ronnie terrorised 60s London 

Together with his murderous twin brother Reggie, Ronnie Kray terrorised London’s East End in the 1960s.

The brothers and their gang were involved in armed robberies, arson, protection rackets and assaults.

 Reggie and Ronnie Kray, pictured in 1965

Ronnie Kray was jailed for life in 1969 for murdering rival George Cornell who he shot dead in the Blind Beggar pub in Whitechapel in 1966.

Reggie Kray was also jailed for life for stabbing to death Jack ‘The Hat’ McVitie in 1967. Ronnie died of a heart attack on 1995 aged 61.

Henry Aldridge and Son auctioneer Andrew Aldridge said: ‘This is a fascinating collection of items relating to one of Britain’s most notorious criminals.

‘The bayonet is the stand-out lot. It was for a World War One Lee Enfield rifle but one can only imagine why the likes of Ronnie Kray would have had it in his possession in the 1960s.

‘It is a quite a chilling object when you think of the type of violence Ronnie Kray is reputed to have meted out on those who crossed him.

‘The other two interesting lots are his prison shirt and towel, which both have his name written on in black handwriting.

‘It would have taken a brave person to have defied the threatening message he would appear to have written on the green towel.’

The bayonet, that was was made by Wilkinson Sword Company and comes with its scabbard, is tipped to sell for £2,000.

The prison shirt and towel are expected to sell for. £500 each while the nine carat gold curb link bracelet is valued at £1,500.

Other items in the sale is Ronnie Kray’s yellow and purple silk cravat and an Italian made Confusione & Co silk tie. Both these items are worth £250. 

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