Original U.S. Vietnam War Era M7 Bayonet with Aluminum Knuckle Guard and PWH M8A1 Scabbard
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Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very unusual U.S. M7 bayonet from the Vietnam War era, fitted with a distinctive cast-aluminum knuckle-guard grip and accompanied by an original U.S. M8A1 scabbard. The underlying bayonet is the familiar M7 pattern associated with the M16 rifle, retaining its dark-finished spear-point blade, muzzle-ring crossguard, and rear bayonet mounting latch. This example is clearly stamped on the crossguard:
U.S. M7
BOC
The BOC marking identifies manufacture by Bauer Ordnance Corporation of Warren, Michigan. The M7 blade retains a substantial amount of its dark gray-black military finish, with scattered scratches, handling wear, and finish thinning consistent with age and use. The point remains intact, and the original muzzle ring, crossguard, pommel, and bayonet latch assembly are all present.
What immediately sets this example apart is the large cast-aluminum knuckle guard. Rather than replacing the entire hilt, the aluminum assembly forms one side of the grip and incorporates a substantial hand guard with individual finger contours. Its upper portion is checkered in a manner similar to the standard M7 grip and is retained by two slotted grip screws. The opposite side appears to retain the conventional black checkered M7 grip panel. The bright aluminum has a coarse cast texture with expected handling and surface wear, giving the bayonet a particularly distinctive appearance.
Knuckle-guarded M7 bayonets such as this have long circulated in the collecting community under descriptions including “Vietnam knuckle knife.” However, the exact history of these replacement grips is not firmly documented, and we have not confirmed this aluminum guard as an officially adopted or issued U.S. military component. It is therefore best regarded as an unusual commercial or private-purchase modification to a genuine U.S. M7 bayonet rather than attributing the guard itself to an official Vietnam-era military program.
Accompanying the bayonet is an original olive-drab U.S. M8A1 scabbard. The steel throat is clearly stamped:
USM8A1
PWH
The PWH marking identifies manufacture by the Pennsylvania Working Home for the Blind, which produced M8A1 scabbards during the Vietnam War period. Documented PWH production dates approximately from 1965 through 1968, making the scabbard an unquestionably Vietnam-era U.S. military component.
The scabbard retains its olive-drab body, green web hanger, and M1910-style double belt hook. It shows scattered scratches and abrasions to the body together with finish wear and oxidation to the steel throat. The webbing likewise displays expected service and storage wear but remains quite presentable.
Dimensions:
Blade length: 6 3/4"
Overall length: 11 3/4”
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- Prohibited and therefore not available for shipment to the following states: Alaska, Arkansas, California, District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, and Washington. Please check all local laws and restrictions before ordering.
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