M4 Carbine Bayonets

[imarangemaster]

Well, I sold my WWII vintage leather handled bayonet and early M8 sheath when I had the 1943 Inland and 1944 Winchester, neither of which had a bayonet lug. With the acquisition of my Inland mix-master, I decided to look for a bayonet again. I knew going into it that any leather handled original would be $150 to $200 depending on condition (I think I got $175 for mine last year). I figured I would pick up a Vietnam era Kinfolks made, or something like that. DANG! Real M4s, even Vietnam era are going for $100 or more. I wanted one, but not that bad.

Then I tripped across this auction on EBAY were Northridge is selling Korean Military made M4s with the grooved rubber handle and a new made repop M8A1 sheath for $30 + $6 shipping. I figure it is better than the commercial knock offs from China with phillips or torx head screws in the grips!

Super Deal Korean Army Rubber Handle Carbine Bayonet with Scabbard Sold | eBay

Hmmmmmm.... since I bought mine, they changed it and have beat up, repaired sheaths. I'll have to see what I get. I will file a complaint with EBAY buyer protection if then send me a P.O.S. sheath....

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

I think Northridge has a prety good reputation. You might contact them before they ship and se if they can hand pick you one.

[GolfBravoUSMC]

Just picked up a post war Japanese M4 Kiffe with scabbard for $70. Although I have a M2 Camillus (K-Bar) from my Vietnam days and a M5 Milpar Col for my Garand, those pictured with the M4 are not mine. The M2 in the picture went for $50 and the M5 Imperial is still available for $50.

[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

Condition is everything when it comes to the pricing on edged weapons.

Even with M-4's that have had their handles replaced for damage for rot, other features can make them more attractive to own. Length of blade at or as close to 6 5/8", original square cut verses reworked round cut, finish, maker.

[imarangemaster]

Update: Well I got the bayonet. The good news is the bayonet is mint with cosmolene on it. A Korean Military exact copy of the M4 with a grooved rubber handle like some of the US made M4s had after leather, before plastic. The parkerizing is 100%, except where the original factory edge is. I like the bayonet and feel of the rubber handle, and I suppose it alone it worth the $29. BUT.......

The bad news is that the sheath was GARBAGE. I could have lived with it, even if it had one of the not too shabby repaired USGI M8A1 sheaths that they picture in the new auction. What I got was the body of an M8A1 with belt no hanger,the throat (?) of the sheath that the hanger was attached to corroded, the springs in the sheath are shot or not there (it falls out upside down), and the end was smashed with a cheap metal cap on it.

I contacted Northridge and told them I want one of the repro M8A1s that was pictured in the auction when I did buy it now. I have saved the JPEG from the auction showing the new sheaths when I bought it because I knew on there web page they had them with repaired sheaths. That's why I thought this was a good deal.

[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

Would it have been nicer to get a better scabbard, sure. But it sounds like you got your $29 worth.

[imarangemaster]

Yep, I think you are right, Jim. It was so new that it still had some thin rubber molding flash on the handle. If worse comes to worse, I can get a used M8A1 for $15 to $20, but not in a hurry to do that. I'll do a daylight photo of the bayonet tomorrow or Monday.

[imarangemaster]

Received a reply from Northridge. No problem, they are sending one of the new manufactured M8A1 sheaths that was pictured.

[imarangemaster]

Here's a link to the M8A1 scabbard they are selling for $9.95. Not USGI, but a decent buy if you are missing a sheath for an M3 , M4, M5, or M7 pig sticker!

Northridge International Inc. / NEW ITEM ! M8A1 SCABBARD NEW REPRODUCTION.

If you want to order through EBAY and use PayPal:

Super Deal M8A1 Scabbard New Condition | eBay

[imarangemaster]

Here's a good picture of the Korean rubber handled M4. Nice knife, for the money. The spots on the blade are cosmolene from the old sheath it first came with. The sheath they finally sent is here, too.