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I recently picked up a bayonet scabbard US M8A1 in like new condition. I was not able to identify the manufacturer even though it was marked with a WP. Has anyone come across a company that uses those initials on the scabbards they made?
I'm not sure how to transmit photos of the scabbard so if you want to see them please contact me at (please use the PM feature)
Thanks
Look closer to see if marked “VP” or “WD”.
From Gary Cunningham’s “bayonet points”:
Besides the V.P. CO. marked version, there is another version that is somewhat of a mystery to me. The underside of the throat has the VP/9 mark as shown earlier with the 1961 production M8A1, the body has the VP logo, but the throat is marked U.S.M8A1 / WD. So far I have found no record of what the WD might stand for. To complicate matters even slightly more, there are WD marked specimens that do not have either of the VP marks, and a VIZ version that is marked VIZ/WD, also with no VP marks.
You can send me the pics by email and I'll post them up here. It'll help and serves as a historical record. See your PM for email address.Quote:
Originally Posted by Glacier-Blue
Thanks Gary. The manufacturers mark is WP, not WD or VP or Viz. I came across one thread where the person also had a WP on his scabbard and he thinks it may represent Western Plastic as the maker. They say that might be a clue. ;)
Here are the pics of his M8A1 scabbard...
The profile of the scabbard actually looks late...not WW2.
See here: Bayo Points 18
So it goes back to what I said about it looking strange. The point profile too long. Suspected to be a repro or non military...? It goes along with the burnished metal finish and the stippled plastic of the scabbard. If handed one at a gunshow I would suspect non issue military contract too.
This group is simply amazing. I wish there was a way to bottle everyone's combined knowledge and make copies. Thanks for everyone's input and thank you for the lead on Bayonet Points...what a great resource.:dancingbanana:
Maybe it's a German made scabbard for the Colt M7 bayonet. I have one here but I'll have to root it out to see if it's got the same markings. They may have sourced the metal here and assembled them there.