Original Item. Only One Available. This is an original U.S. M1 bayonet manufactured by the Utica Cutlery Company of Utica, New York, accompanied by a U.S. M7 scabbard. Developed during WWII for the M1 Garand service rifle, the bayonet has the standard 10-inch blade with a long fuller, a steel crossguard with muzzle ring, and a dark brown grooved composition grip. Utica was a major wartime military cutlery contractor and subsequently received an additional M1 bayonet contract during the Korean War period.

The blade is stamped at the ricasso:

U.C. U.S.
[Flaming Bomb]

The U.C. initials identify Utica Cutlery Company, while U.S. denotes United States military property. The flaming-bomb emblem represents the U.S. Army Ordnance Department. The blade has a single cutting edge and a spear-shaped point. The hilt retains its steel pommel, mounting slot, locking arrangement, and screw-secured composition grip panels.

The accompanying M7 scabbard has an olive-drab molded composite body with a metal throat and wire belt hook. The throat bears the characteristic U.S. Ordnance flaming-bomb emblem, a military acceptance and identification marking associated with this scabbard pattern.

Condition is good overall, showing considerable age and handling wear. The blade retains a largely bright steel surface with extensive grinding and sharpening marks, scratches, and scattered discoloration. The point remains intact. The crossguard and pommel show oxidation and a brown-gray patina, while the grooved grip exhibits surface wear and a visible crack near the crossguard. The scabbard remains in good condition, retaining much of its olive-drab finish with scattered abrasions, paint loss, and surface rust concentrated around the metal fittings.

Measurements:

Blade Length: 9⅞" [25.1 cm]
Overall Bayonet Length: 14½" [36.8 cm]
Overall Length With Scabbard: 15¾" [40.0 cm]

Historical Context

The M1 bayonet originated in the U.S. Army's effort to reduce the weight and bulk of infantry equipment during WWII. When American forces entered the conflict, the standard rifle bayonet was still based on the M1905, originally developed for the Springfield M1903 rifle. Its long blade reflected the infantry doctrine of the early twentieth century, when bayonet fighting was considered an important part of battlefield training. The adoption of the semiautomatic M1 Garand in 1936 brought substantial changes to American infantry firepower, although the older bayonet remained in service during the Army's early wartime expansion.

In 1943, the Ordnance Department standardized the shorter M1 bayonet following trials of a revised 10-inch blade. New production began that year, while large numbers of existing M1905 bayonets were recalled and shortened to the revised length. These converted weapons were initially designated M1905E1 during the modification program and subsequently entered service under the M1 designation. The resulting bayonet offered a more manageable weapon for close combat and reduced the amount of equipment carried by an infantryman already burdened with ammunition, entrenching tools, rations, and other field necessities.

The change was incorporated into the Army's standardized ordnance inventory. The 1944 Standard Ordnance Items Catalog specified a blade length of 10 inches, an overall length of approximately 14.4 inches, and a weight of 13.5 ounces. The Army retained the established rifle mounting arrangement, permitting continued use with the Garand and the Springfield M1903 family. Production of the shorter pattern also simplified the supply of bayonets during a period when American forces were operating across several major theaters of war.

The scabbard was an important part of the bayonet's development. Wartime production had already introduced molded plastic scabbards with metal fittings, reducing dependence on traditional materials and providing a durable carrying arrangement. The M7 scabbard entered production in 1943 for the new 10-inch bayonet, replacing the longer M3 scabbard for this purpose. Its interior incorporated spring-steel retaining plates that helped hold the blade securely in place, while the standard wire hook allowed attachment to the eyelets of American web equipment. These scabbards were manufactured through Victory Plastics, a subsidiary established under Beckwith Manufacturing Company to fulfill military contracts.

The U.S. Ordnance Department's flaming-bomb insignia had been associated with American military weapons and ammunition since the nineteenth century. During WWII, the department oversaw the development, procurement, inspection, storage, and distribution of an enormous range of military equipment. The emblem became a familiar symbol on government-manufactured edged weapons and associated accessories, identifying their connection with the Army's ordnance supply system.

The M1 bayonet remained in the American inventory following Japan's surrender in 1945. Its service continued during the Korean War, when the M1 Garand was still the standard infantry rifle of U.S. forces. Demand for military equipment during this period resulted in renewed procurement, including a 1953 contract awarded to Utica for 75,000 additional M1 bayonets. These later weapons continued the established Utica-marked pattern, making precise production dating dependent on additional manufacturing details.

The development of American infantry bayonets continued during the 1950s with the introduction of the M5 pattern. This newer design employed a different mounting arrangement and a shorter blade, bringing the Army's bayonet equipment closer to the compact knife-bayonet forms that would characterize subsequent generations of American service rifles.