Posted 12 years ago
Chrisnp
(310 items)
As I mentioned in my last post, the M1 Carbine did not originally come with a bayonet, but starting in 1944 (some sources say 45) the carbines were equipped with lugs for a bayonet that was patterned after the M3 fighting knife.
The M4 bayonet has an unusual attachment mechanism – two spring loaded catches on either side of the pommel. Another unusual feature is the placement of markings on the crossguard instead of at the base of the blade. Mine was made by Case Manufacturing. The grips are leather; later versions had plastic or sometimes wood grips.
The scabbard is an M8A1. The original M3 fighting knife that the bayonet was patterned after had a leather sheath. The M8 was designed both as a replacement for the leather sheath and for the M4 bayonet. The later M8A1 had a longer web attachment and wire hooks instead of a belt loop.
Really like the leather grips on this one. It just looks better if nothing else. It seems this is very close to the basic bayonet for the M16 aside from the grips. That and the fit of course.
Thanks fortapache, I like the leather too. The bayonet for the M-16 was the M7 bayonet, and you are right, it's very similar except it had a plastic grip. It even used the same M8A1 scabbard.
Thanks for the love blunder, fortapache, shareurpassion, crazycharacter, Vintagefran, Manikin, tom61375 and southcop.