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WWII US M-1 Bayonet -
The M1 Bayonet was designed to be used with the U.S. M1 Garand rifle. The blade is 10 inches (25.4 cm) long, and the handle is 4 inches (10.1 cm) long.
Before 1943, the M1 Garand and all variants of the U.S. Rifle Model 1903 were using the M1905 bayonet and later M1942 bayonets.
In 1943, the U.S. Army decided a shorter bayonet would be better, so as many of the M1905/1942s as possible were recalled, had their blades cut down to 10 inches, and were reissued. These shortened bayonets, along with the newly made 10-inch bayonets, are called M1 bayonets. They 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. However, in the Pacific theater, the much longer
Japanese bayonets on the already very long
Arisaka rifle caused many American troops to retain the long M1905 bayonet.
The item featured here is a US bayonet. As issued for the M-1 rifle during WWII.
The bayonet shown here is a combination of a WWI scabbard with a WWII knife. It was a fairly common
occurance to mix equipment from both wars. The need to get equipment out to the field was so
pressing that the only thing in the mind of the quartermasters was to provide functional equipment fast.
The scabbard for the WWII M1 Garand was constructed of fiberglass. The one shown here is leather.
Heavy duty stiching is found in the back portion. The throat has a metal insert held togerther by
three rivets. A small rectangular bracket is attached to the face. A small marking is placed just
above the bracket. The tip also has a metal insert. This one is stapled to the leather.
The hanging device is very interesting. It protrudes fromt he throat section. It has a metal bracket
and a folded portion of leather, which is secured to the bracket via the use of two rivets.
The fold holds a standard wire-type brass hook which permits the bayonet to be attached to a belt or
backpack.
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This page is a recognition and identification guide for WWII US edge weapons. Multiple
detailed photos of a specific sample are provided. Descriptions point out clearly defined
points that should be noted.
One of the most commonly asked questions is "How much is my WWII knife or sword worth?".
A price guide is included here to address this question. The value of the edge weapons
is reviewed over a period of several years. A trend can be observed. The present worth
of US militaria in the collector's market is illustrated.
This service is provided free of charge to the visitor/enthusiast courtesy of
MilitaryItems.com,
a company dedicated to the preservation of military history and to providing quality military
antiques and collectibles to museums, institutions and the general public.
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The design of the bayonet consists of black hard plastic grips with a ribbed pattern. A single screw is
used to secure them to the tang. The pommel is metal and of "bird beak" appearance. The cross guard has
openings that let the locking mechanism go through. A button must be pressed to take the bayonet off
the scabbard.
The blade is double edged. It has a large blood groove that runs for most of the length of the
blade. Tha base of the blade has a the following information stamped on it:
The manufacturer's iniitals "U.H.F." , Below that is a logo with the letters "U" and "S" to the
its left and right flanks. the year 1943 is stamped below the logo.
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This US edge weapon is currently being
reproduced.
It is becoming more difficult to be able to tell the fake ones from the real ones because
the quality of the reproductions is improving. The collector must become familiarized with
the construction style and materials employed in the manufacturing of this edge weapon.
Attention to the details is critical in order to be able to determine the authenticity of
the collectible.
If you have an interest is seeing other WWII edge weapons, you can do so by
going to our
WWII US Edge Weapons
identification guide. Where we cover Army, Navy, Army Air Force and other organizations.
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