Imperial M4 bayonet

[RCS]

I have owned this for a long time and decided to take some photos. I have two carbines but neither on has the bayonet attachment

Might be WW2 manufactured ?

Information

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[mnmkeller]

Looks like leather grips and in nice shape...very nice.

[browningautorifle]

Might be WW2 manufactured ?

Yes, I think they are. Later had bakelite and they made so many you can still find a few in the wrap. Those are good honest vets.

[Aragorn243]

I also think it's WWII due to the leather grips. Post war are black plastic. Pretty sure I have a similar one as I have a carbine with the lug. Late war, probably built that way.

I need to start inventorying my bayonets as I am losing the ability to remember what I have. I take photos of everything I get now but did not for many years. Now I have bayonets I don't recall what they go on which is even worse.

[browningautorifle]

Now I have bayonets I don't recall what they go on which is even worse.

Bring 'Em out and we'll figure it out...

[Aragorn243]

Someday. I keep telling myself I'm going to inventory these and photograph them so when and if something happens to me the family won't be totally lost and selling $300 bayonets for $20. It's just a bit overwhelming sometimes. I should have done it when we were stuck at home for 7 weeks during the pandemic but that would have been too easy.

I've been pretty good with everything I've gotten in the past few years. One of the first things I do with a new item is photograph it and post it here. But I didn't do that with everything prior to the pandemic.

I even have a few firearms I never photographed.

[browningautorifle]

One of the first things I do with a new item is photograph it and post it here.

Well, then too we had that photo loss so many would need to be refilled.

[Flying10uk]

What about the M4 bayonets that are marked "Japan"? There have been several explanations for these but did they ever see military use?

[browningautorifle]

What about the M4 bayonets that are marked "Japan

Supposedly made for the Japanese defense force but I don't think so. I believe they were made for the collector's market because there had been lots of carbines available but no bayonets. They're SO CHEAP they'd never stand up to military use. It was years before I saw a US issue M4. The KIFFE bayonets were around though.

[Flying10uk]

One explanation that I once saw is that the US got them made in Japan for the Korean War because they were short of them. I think that this explanation was the dealer trying to bump up the price several times because he had one for sale.

I found the one that I have at a car boot sale about 30 years ago at the bottom of a box of military clothing/belts etc. I asked the woman running the stall how much the bayonet was and she was like "Oh my god it's a bayonet." I replied that I didn't mind and she said that I could have it for £2.