Victory Training Rifle 1942

[Aragorn243]

I've wanted one of these for a while but they were either in rough condition or priced too high or both. This one was at the Auction from Hell as I like to call it but I took a chance showed up about a half hour before it went up and got it for $65 which I thought was pretty decent considering it has a sling on it that might be worth a good portion of that.

It is complete, in decent condition with a little rust on the metal and some wear on the wood but no cracks.

Sling has several markings on it I can read and several I can't, appears supple and uncracked. One end has a clear W.D. with a possible O following. Other end is less clear. There is a small O.O.K. at a slight angle and then Something that starts with L then possibly - F C O and possible date of 1910 or 1918-9. Partial logo with rounded bottom CON? with a distinct H.E. stamped below it. Any sling specialists?













Hard to imagine they actually used these for training. These were produced by the Parris-Dunn Corporation. The Army ordered 35,000 of these, the Navy with a bayonet lug ordered 300,000 and all contracts were completed. This one is the Army version. After the war they produced an additional 200,000 for the civilian market

[Aragorn243]

I'd say I got a pretty good deal on this. IMA sold one (they only had one) for $295.00. Apparently the Army versions are quite rare. No sling on their either.

[Flying10uk]

Is this the training rifle that the ridiculously fragile plastic training bayonets fitted?

I did manage to pick up one of the plastic training bayonets a few years ago which had been broken in more than one place. I did manage to glue the plastic back together again and make a complete plastic training bayonet, as used by the US Navy.

[Aragorn243]

It is made by the same company but it is not the same rifle. The Navy versions had a flip up rear sight, a bayonet lug and a trigger that actually moved and clicked. Other than that, I believe they are constructed the same. They made 300,000 of the Navy versions so they are a lot more common. Only 35,000 of these were made for the Army.

[free1954]

very nice sir. you got a good deal on that. it's in good shape.

[browningautorifle]

I did manage to pick up one of the plastic training bayonets a few years ago

Did you ever show us that one?

We still have the same sort of thing now. We had produced C7 rifles using a real rifle barrel, I would think a substandard barrel...and front sight base with the rest cast of hard rubber. They were far heavier and very cumbersome but served a purpose.

Since then we see the fleet diver's school candidates locally using "Redguns" for training painted black. (Carbines and subguns and a few MP5s) Some were also blue but you guys understand...and the paint was beat off them. These things have always had a place in training. I once participated in a bayonet attack course in Ft Lewis Wa with my Canadian unit that destroyed about seven C7 rifles during the company's run through...training rifles would have avoided that.

[Flying10uk]

Did you ever show us that one?

I'll try and take a few photos to post as soon as I can. I think that these US Navy plastic training bayonets must count as just about the world's most fragile bayonet and explain why they are not often seen for sale. There are more of the scabbards around, which are marked USN, but can be used for other US bayonets. The problem with this bayonet is that it is doubly fragile in that the plastic muzzle ring is far too insubstantial and can easily break/fracture and also the plastic blade can and will break if any significant sideways torque is put on the blade. The blade does have a thin internal steel strengthening plate but this does not extend much beyond the ricasso and will not prevent blade breakage.

[browningautorifle]

The blade does have a thin internal steel strengthening plate

Ok, I think I understand the one...uses the long M3 scabbard and it's got a black blade and often busted muzzle ring...supposedly flexed when you pointed a target. Yes, I've seen these. Had the scabbards but not the blade.

[Flying10uk]

Yes, you have to ask what the designers of these plastic training bayonets were thinking of when they designed these items.

[Merle]

low cost???