Printable View
The only thing I know about bayonets is that they usually go on the end of a rifle. Other than that, I also know that they are easily faked and it takes some pretty knowledgeable people to tell if they are. I would appreciate it if some of you could look at these two bayonets that I picked up today and advise on their authenticity. If people ask about them, I like to be able to give them accurate information reference their authenticity. Thanks!
M1 bayonet
M6 bayonet
They both look good to me. The M1 bayonet copies are terrible, you'd be able to tell. I think that one's fine. These made in Germany M6 bayonets were made by Carl Eickhorn and it's been said that they were used by Haiti. It should be marked though... There's also a story they were sold commercially, decades ago. The M6 should have US manufacture markings if it's a US issue.
That's what kind of worries me. The only markings I could find when I took it apart were the "US M6" on the handguard.Quote:
Originally Posted by browningautorifle
I think it must be one of the Eickhorn products then, I still don't regard them as a "Fake" as they were used but not by the US... Eikhorn made the M7 as sell and the difference was the grip was a formed tube that slid over the tang and was retained by a stainless Phillips screw through the butt. It hung in our rifle company office on a plaque for years until our Battalion moved. It was like your M6 for looks.
That would make sense. Thank you sir!Quote:
Originally Posted by browningautorifle
Your M1 appears to be authentic. The bayonet latch was made by Utica Cutlery. Not to worry, according to "Bayonet Points" by Gary Cunningham, by early 1943 all manufacturers used the "UC" bayonet latches.
Unfortunately, we lost Gary before he could do a comprehensive study on the M6. But, if it means anything, your M6 looks like my M6 except mine has MILPAR COL stamped on it.
Hope this helps.
BEAR
It does, thank you sir!
Singing B,
Found some more information and pictures that may be helpful.
All: Can I assume Carl Eickhorn Waffenfabrik , Carl Eickhorn in West Germany, and A. Eickhorn-Solingen (AES) in West Germany to be one in the same?
If so it appears he had a hand in the Denmark m/62. The Haiti M5A1, And the US Colt "New Model" M7. Maybe others, I only looked over the page 2 results in the Link below.
Here is your picture of the cross piece with the US M6 marking:
https://www.milsurps.com/attachment....2&d=1628126329
Compare the markings on the Haiti M6, Note how deep the V inside the M travels down:
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...8/B13754-1.jpg
Also the Haiti M6 is shown with a U.S. M8A1 over Made in W-Germany Scabbard like your's.
Singer's Scabbard:
https://www.milsurps.com/attachment....9&d=1628126227
Link Scabbard:
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...8/B13756-1.jpg
The Haiti M6 doesn't show if it has phillips head screws, but I'd expect them since the Haiti M5A1 is known to have them.
To my limited experience with bayonets and scabbards the profile of your grips and the checker pattern look very much like the Haiti M6.
I found these measurements on the Link. Compare a US M6 to a Haiti M6 bayonet:
Blade length- US____ 6.75" HAITI___ 6.50"
Overall Length- US___ 11.375" HAITI___ 11.25"
Muzzle Ring Diameter- US___ .725" HAITI___ .725"
Information gathered from Ralph E. Cobb's worldbayonets.com-The Collector's Edge: Bayonet Reference
Here's the Link it will open up on page 2, where I pulled the above from. There may be more that can be useful.
Link: U.S. and U.S. M7 Bayonets
I quickly skimmed some other pages. Enough to see that Carl Eickhorn was involved in many Bayonets designed for other countries.
I also seen more Scabbards marked like yours and with markings on Snap Rings.
@Singer B,
Are there any markings on your Scabbard Snaps ?
Good Weekend All :cheers:
I think your assumptions about Carl Eickhorn are correct Charlie... More pics to illustrate the tube handle of the various bayonets, M7 and M4. See the different fixture screws? All these went to some gov't issue somewhere. Here's a link to Bill Porter's pages so you can see who was issued what. Porters Page
Sorry, no markings on the scabbard snaps. It is a brass colored snap that is somewhat worn. No marks on the black rivets attaching the sheath to the nylon belt shank either.Quote:
Originally Posted by painter777
Personally I wouldn't worry too much about a bayonet being a fake if it hasn't got a certain marking. Lots of bayonets have markings on one example that are not present on another similar example of the same bayonet.
I'm not aware of the M6 being faked, not yet anyway. It's a relatively low priced bayonet. The M1 looks good.
Thanks everyone, I learned a lot from this. Going to start looking for more.
You could try the cheap and cheerful Le Enfield No4 socket bayonet that offers the chance to collect a bayonet with an almost infinite number of possible marking combinations. They are all relatively cheap unless you decide to go "upmarket" and opt for the Mk1 version which isn't cheap. This is the original cruciform shaped version and you do have to be careful not buy a fake.
There is the ultra rare refurbished MKI cruciform bayonet also which I happen to have. We had a big debate about that one when I first found it. Graham Priest confirmed it's legit. They found a few more since I found mine but then there was only about a dozen known to exist. I think it's in the 20's now.
No...there are many that live even here with forum members. I had one for a couple decades and sold it back about year 2000 with the rifle. I had a Hook Quillion 1907, 1903, then for the #4 rifle a #7 blade, #9 blade and all the variations. Cruciform blades are only scarce because they were absorbed into collections and never come out. There's far more than just a few though. Now, if they're REAL, that's different.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aragorn243
Singer cruciform spike bayonets are the norm. The one I have was refurbished post war and re-marked, very rare.
https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=37884
Got it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aragorn243