Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice service used WWI production M1905 U.S. bayonet with a 10 inch cut-down blade for the M1 Garand Rifle, complete with the correct WWII Issue M7 scabbard. 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, such as the blade on this example.

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 fair shape, but does show wear from age and use. The blade ricasso is marked with SA for the Springfield Armory in Springfield, Massachusetts, one of the most well-known manufacturers in U.S. History. Below this is the Ordnance flaming bomb and date of manufacture 1920. The other side of the ricasso is marked with U.S. over the serial number 1139225.

Tracing the history of this bayonet, it was originally produced after WWI. With the outbreak of WWII, at some point it was refinished with a parkerized finish and had the original wooden grips replaced with plastic. It was also cut down to M1905E1. The parkerized finish is in great shape so the cut-down occurred at the factory. Definitely a bayonet with great history!

Condition is very good, with the blade retaining much of the finish, and having a lightly stained bright steel finish where it was modified. The grip has lots of finish left and the plastic has some chipping as shown.

The original M7 scabbard is in good condition, marked to the front with the flaming bomb around U.S.. There is scattered oxidation on the throat and some heavy wear to the paint of the body, with some cracking in the body near the tip.

This example is particularly interesting because it preserves several distinct periods of U.S. military use in a single artifact: original Springfield Armory manufacture in 1920, subsequent WWII parkerizing and grip replacement, and conversion from the full-length M1905 pattern to the shortened M1905E1 configuration. Complete with its M7 scabbard, it is a strong representative example of the practical wartime modification program that adapted earlier U.S. bayonets for continued service with the M1 Garand.

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