1917 US scabbards - WOW

I have two 1917 bayonets and no scabbards so decided to watch for them on ebay. Two sold last evening. The lowball sold for $107.50, the high sold for $155.00. I have noticed that most 1917 bayonets are in British scabbards if in one but one in a proper scabbard sold for around the price of the scabbard alone in the one auction.

I don't get it.

I lucked into one the other day that was being used as an Arisaka scabbard. Haven't gotten it yet but I got it and the bayonet for $77.00.

Problem is, that is now the third Arisaka bayonet without a complete scabbard. I have one scabbard that is missing the throat piece. No one seems to sell them either.

I think we agree with you so far...

I got a nice 1918 marked one for around 65 to use as a trade item, not mint but very good. THey are not as easy to get as i thought it would be

The US M1917 scabbards, both 1st and 2nd Patterns, are hard to find on the loose. After WW1 the US went back to the M1903 as the standard pattern rifle and the M1917 went into storage with the M1917 bayonets going with them, however both the 1st and 2nd pattern M1917 scabbards fit the M1906 bayonet quite nicely and the US military, operating on limited peacetime budgets, used them as replacement scabbards for the M1906 bayonet when the standard scabbard was not available. The 1917 scabbards were not replaced since the need for M1917 Rifles was not foreseen. Many of the M1917 Rifles were sent to Britain for their use during WW2 and the Brits used their own standard scabbard for the P07 bayonet having no use for the hooks on ours. Then the M7 scabbard was adopted and the need for old scabbards was nill, the ones in storage were issued and used until worn out in training and the new scabbards then issued as needed.

And for the high prices, we as collectors, really have no one to blame but ourselves. The scarcity of the scabbards has caused us to call them "rare" for years and that mindset has caused them to be a "holy grail" and the prices have risen accordingly.

And speaking of British scabbards, Springfield Sporters acquired a large number of US M1917 bayonets in the '70s and was selling them in the British scabbards through the '80s. They came from Greece who received them from Britain after the Second World War. Price of British scabbard and US bayonet from Springfield Sporters in the mid-'80s? $12.00! And less if you bought more. Wish I had kept a few of them....:banghead:

Thanks for the information. That explains a lot on why most are in British scabbards and why the US models are so uncommon.

As a general rule, scabbards are a lot harder to find than bayonets. Leather and fiberglass scabbards rot, break, and do not last as long as metal bayonets/knives.

That applies to mostly all US scabbards. Even though the late issue M8A1 is still available, many dealers are making fakes because they know the prices will increase as time goes on.

There has been a sudden peak of interest in model 1917s that happened several months back because of an article that the American Riflemen magazine ran. Ever scince then, a good 1917 went from about $500 to as high as a eddystone that sold on auction arms for over $1200.Before that the bayonets with 1st or second type scabbards were much easier to buy. I personally think it will improve some in several months. I dont beleive they will ever get cheap again. The positive thing is that there are a lot more people out there that have fallen in love with these old guns, just like we have. Good luck with your search

My scabbard arrived today oddly enough with a note attached to it identifying it as a Japanese bayonet and a GF marked US 1917 scabbard. No mention of the scabbard was made in the ebay auction which is why I'm assuming, I got it so cheap. The scabbard is in pretty decent shape, upper band has no dents or marks, lower end piece has one bend on the end I could probably work out. The leather looks good with about 90% of the original green finish on it. One inch and a half long narrow scuff on the front and a few quarter inch scuffs on the one side near the end. The upper band is marked GF. The leather is marked with a very clear "N" which only penetrates the paint and a deeper larger stamping of three letters which I can't quite make out. Possibly "EJP".

The arisaka bayonet, the "bonus" has a great looking handle but the blade has some deep pitting starting about 6 inches from the end. It is a type I did not have so it will go reside with the other two I have rather than be re-sold.

My 1918 marked 1917 bayonet looks real good in its new scabbard. I don't believe I will continue the search for a second one at these prices. My second 1918 marked 1917 may go on the auction or trade block one of these days. I bought the pair together at auction about two years ago.

in addition to the type I and type II leather M-1917 scabbords there were also WWII fiberglass M-1917 scabbords that resemble the M3 but with a longer throt collar , as well as later viet nam era fiberglass version of the M1917 scabbord [slightly differant markings]

also there was a danish version of the type II leather with a double thick top/belt atachment and danish markings , these were around not long ago fairly inexpensive and in very nice condition

This should be in the WTS forum...