Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very good 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 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 very minor wear from storage. The blade ricasso is marked with the maker PAL (Pal Blade and Tool) above and U.S. around the Ordnance flaming bomb. The original phosphate finish on the blade of this example is worn, but still retained at about 75%. It is still relatively sharp and shows no signs of post arsenal sharpening. The finish on the crossguard and pommel is very worn but mostly retained, and the grip plates are very nice, with the expected heavy wear and scuffing from service.

The original M7 scabbard is marked U.S. on the parkerized steel throat over the "Flaming Bomb", and is in fair condition with heavy wear and oxidation with scuffing to the paint of the body. The throat bears a B/N marking. The B identifies Beckwith Manufacturing Company, which assembled the scabbard, while the N refers to New England Pressed Steel Company, the supplier associated with production of the steel throat components.

The M1 bayonet retained the same general mounting system and grip configuration as the earlier M1905 pattern while reducing the blade length from 16 inches to 10 inches. It was intended primarily for the M1 Garand but could also be fitted to the M1903 Springfield rifle. The shorter blade reduced weight and was more convenient to carry while preserving the bayonet’s function as both a fighting weapon and field knife.

This PAL produced M1 bayonet retains the principal features used to identify a purpose made WWII 10 inch example, including the shorter blade fuller, correct ricasso markings, phosphate finish, and M7 scabbard. Together with the worn but original scabbard, it forms a representative set for a collection of M1 Garand accessories, U.S. WWII edged weapons, or infantry equipment.

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