Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice service used condition U.S. M1 bayonet with a 10 inch blade for the M1 Garand Rifle, complete with the correct WWII Issue M7 scabbard. This bayonet is essentially the same as the earlier M1905 / M1942 bayonet, but with a 10 inch blade instead of 16 inches. In 1943, the U.S. Army made the decision to shorten the M1905 bayonet's blade to 10 inches (25.4 cm) and as many of the M1905 and M1942 bayonets as possible were recalled, their blades were cut down to size, and were reissued. These shortened M1905 bayonets were re-designated as M1905E1.

The U.S. Army also introduced a new purpose made shorter M1 bayonet which was designed to be used with the M1 Garand rifle. The M1 bayonet's blade is 10 inches (25.4 cm) long and the handle is 4 inches (10.1 cm) long. Like this example, they are easily identified by the blade fuller, which on a cut-down version runs to the edge of the blade. The shorter fuller indicates this is definitely a purpose-made M1 10 inch bayonet.

These shorter bayonets functioned well in the European theater, where in the rare bayonet-actions of the time they were matched up against the 9​ 3⁄4 inch long blade of the German S84/98 III bayonet fitted on the Karabiner 98k rifle. However, in the Pacific theater, the Japanese used the much longer, 15.75 inches (40.0 cm), bladed Type 30 sword bayonet on the already very long Arisaka rifle, which caused many American troops to retain the longer, unmodified M1905 bayonet.

This example is in very good shape, but does show wear from age and use. The blade ricasso is marked with maker A. F. H. (American Fork & Hoe of Geneva, Ohio) above U.S. around the Ordnance "flaming bomb". The original phosphate finish on the blade of this example is mostly worn away, with some staining and oxidation on the exposed steel. There has been some sharpening, so this definitely appears to be a bayonet that saw service in the field. The finish on the crossguard and pommel is similar to the blade, and the grip plates are very nice, with the expected wear from service.

The original M7 scabbard is marked U.S. on the parkerized steel throat over the "Flaming Bomb", and is in good condition, with a lot of the original parkerized finish present. The B-N marking on the underside of the metal throat lip indicates manufacture by Beckwith Manufacturing, who produced a variety of thermoplastic impregnated cotton fabric scabbards during the war. The N is for New England Pressed Steel, who made the steel throats under contract with Beckwith. There is also a VP marking embossed on the back of the scabbard body, for Victory Plastics, the parent company of Beckwith. The scabbard body has no cracks or major chips we can see, however the body was entirely repainted at one point.

A very nice 10” M Garand bayonet with scabbard by Union Fork & Hoe, complete with scabbard! Ready to display or fit on your Garand Rifle.

Specifications:
Blade Length: 10"
Blade Style: Single Edged with Fuller
Overall length: 14 1/2“
Crossguard: 3 1/2”
Scabbard Length: 11 1/4"