P17 Bayonet without grooved grips.

[Aragorn243]

We've already found out, Doubting Thomas.

[A square 10]

the only one i might be skeptical of [perha[s porter kids knows = or one of the others i know to be knowledgable here] is if the muzzle ring of the original P13 for the P13 rifle could be different

thats because i dont have one - yet?

i know wishful thinking like the HAC i want .........

[browningautorifle]

We will find out when I try fitting the bayonet to the rifle.

All that will compare is your rifle and bayonet. If yours is gimped the rest of the world will be wrong...? And we can't see either to determine what's what. Anyway, we've told you so have fun with YOURS.

[Peter Laidler]

Strangely enough, there was a plug gauge for the bayonet crosspiece holes. We had one for the No1 bayonet that was identical to the No3 bayonet and another for the No5 bayonets. Never saw one for the L1A1 but I would imagine that by then, it'd dawned on 'scales branch'* that nobody ever used the gauges! We all had an L1 or No5 flash eliminator/muzzle end of a scrap Sterling or old No4 barrel muzzle bolted onto our benches. Same as testing the rifles. The out-inspector usually had a relevant selection of bayonets that he used to test the serviceability of the flash eliminators. 'Big' Robbie had a nice collection of bayonets with cut-off blades and white painted handles used as his bench test pieces

Off at a tangent time. So if you're not interested, look away now........

* Scales Branch. The section '....somewhere' that decided the scales of equipment that were issued to or available to us in the technical side of the Army. Usually very approachable, down to earth and would always listen to a good idea. When you dealt with them, paperwork was at an absolute minimum and a quick note, suggestion or sketch was all that was required

[Flying10uk]

I have now tried fitting my P17 bayonet to my P14 rifle and this bayonet was originally made as a P17 bayonet as it would have been pointless trying a P14 bayonet re-labeled as a P17 bayonet for the purposes of this study. As far as I'm aware I am the first person on this thread to actually try fitting a P17 bayonet, originally made as such, on a P14 rifle. I can confirm that it does fit without problems. When people tell me things like like the P14 &17 bayonets not being fully interchangeable I do not automatically assume that I am right and they are wrong. As in this example, I test the theory out in practice if at all possible which I have now done.

[Aragorn243]

I fitted the bayonets to the rifles a long time ago. Didn't think it was needed to specifically state that considering the overwhelming consensus that the bayonets are the same other than markings which is also further indicated in all written matters on the subject. The 1917 was a wartime expedient to get rifles into US soldiers hands as fast and as efficiently as possible. Nothing but the caliber was changed along with eliminating volley sights which the US Army did not use.

[browningautorifle]

As far as I'm aware I am the first person on this thread to actually try fitting a P17 bayonet, originally made as such, on a P14 rifle.

We told you we'd done it...

[Flying10uk]

The P14 bayonets (1913 bayonets) which were relabelled for the P17 rifle, in my books, are still P14 bayonets and have not somehow magically morphed into the same thing as the P17 bayonets which were made as such from scratch. No-one has stated that they have tried a P17 bayonet made as such from scratch on a P14 rifle until I did in post 45, as far as I am aware. Please correct me if I have missed a post in which some-one clearly states that they have done so.

[Aragorn243]

All bayonets were made from scratch on the same machinery for the same rifles. After each was made, it was stamped with the appropriate marks. Acceptance marks for the British on all P-14 bayonets, US on all 1917 bayonets which again are identical except for the markings. P-14 bayonets which had been marked for British acceptance but not yet shipped when the US entered the war were also stamped with US marks. Again, exact same bayonet other than the marks. Whether anyone specifically stated they had tried them or not it was clearly implied by several, myself included. There also was no need, there is no mystery, they are the same bayonet.

I actually own two 1918 bayonets made by Remington who being used to stamping the year on British bayonets, 1913, 1914 and so on started with 1917 on the US bayonets and switched to 1918 upon the new year until being informed that the US wanted the model, 1917, not the year. These also fit on both the 1917 and P-14 rifles.

[Flying10uk]

I repeat, no-one has clearly stated that they have tried a P17 bayonet, made as such, on a P14 rifle until I did, as far as I'm aware.