Lend Lease bayonets?

[GerryRA]

Early in WWII, we sent thousands of new production M1 rifles and Remington M1903 rifles Lend Lease to England. I’m wondering what bayonets were sent with them. Had production of the M1905 by WWII contractors started yet?

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[old-smithy]

Not sure where you got your info from, the Americans supplied the P14/17 rifles not M1's or 1903's, and the bayonet for them is the P17 bayonet that was similar to the 1907 with a higher muzzle ring. the 1903 and M1 used a 30.06 calibre round which the UK didn't use so they would have been useless and a great burden to have two different ammo types.

[browningautorifle]

The M1 rifle was supplied in number to the English in the early days of WW2, I among others here have one with markings. There were also 1903 rifles and many other weapons in that supply. Bayonets would have been what was on hand at the time, but since there was no export criteria with a bayonet, there would be no markings as per the rifles when they were exported. Thus no paper trail like we have with the M1 rifle...apparently they made their own webbing for these weapons to at least some extent, we have evidence of that in pieces many have in their collections bearing UK makers marks.

[old-smithy]

Live and learn, I have never heard of M1's being shipped over, especially as all that could be made would go to the US troop buildup, after all they made sedgleys to make up for bayonet shortfall. could these have been used outside the UK where US troops were and the supply of 30.06 would make sense.?

[browningautorifle]

Apparently the most of these rifles saw limited use as guard duty...with the exception of some commando units using them. Most have returned in mint shape with original configuration, right down to the round firing pins. That had to be #1 change on them. It's quite an extensive list of SA that was shipped. M1, carbines, 1903s, BARs, and more...they lost lots during the Dunkirk evac and needed fresh weapons that were used around home. Most have traces of red paint from the band painted on them for identification of "Non standard ammo".

[gew8805]

The 30/06 US M1917 Rifle was sent to England in large quantities along with the US M1917 bayonet, issue was primarily to the Home Guard. Britain also received more than adequate supplies of .30 ammo from the US for their use.

The M1917 Rifle was the US version of the P14 British Rifle but modified for US .30 caliber ammunition. It had been the most commonly issued rifle to US forces serving on the Western Front during WW1 and it's production was far larger than the M1903 Springfield. The '03 Springfield was only produced by Springfield and Rock Island Arsenals and neither could produce adequate numbers for the rapidly expanding US Army, and Marine Corps so the production of the P14 Rifle by Winchester, Eddystone and Remington was ended (the British no longer needed them) and the switch to .30 caliber was made and it gained extended life as the excellent US M1917. The US M1917 bayonet, issued with the M1917 Rifle, was the British P13 bayonet with modifications to the scabbard by adding hooks to allow it to be carried on the US web gear.