Click on thumbnail for full sized image
The M4 bayonets made by Turner were probably actually for issue to US
forces, to help refill the depleted supply created by use in the Korean War.
I still have a couple of questions about those produced by Imperial,
especially as to when they were manufactured. I feel that if they were
produced in the 1950s for actual US issue, they would be more common today
than they are. I still have a feeling that they were produced on US contract
in the 1960s for sale or aid to another country. So far no one has been able
to tell me when the part number began to be molded into the grips. As I
mentioned earlier, the early M6 grips do not have the number, leading me to
believe that the numbers did not begin to be used until circa 1962 or so. I
would really like to see one in the original packaging with the contract
number and date to help answer this question. Something that I failed to
mention in my comments about the Imperial M4 is that the grip screws are not
the type used in the other M4s (and M7s) but are the type used in the M5 and
M6 bayonets. This may indicate that Imperial produced these M4s at the same
time as they were making either M5s or M6s.
Those produced by Conetta and Bren-Dan were almost certainly made on US
contract but were for aid/sale to another country, quite possibly South
Vietnam. However, it is also quite probable that parts left over from these
contracts were used to make M4 bayonets for commercial sales. If they are
found with M7 grips and no slots in the tang, they are almost certainly
commercial items. This is not to say that this was done by Conetta/Bren-Dan,
but probably by another company that bought the overruns of parts after the
contracts were completed.
Many M4s are found with World War Two markings on the guard, and often the
pommel, but with plastic grips. The popular story is that these were converted
from leather handles to plastic in an official US military conversion program.
No record of such a program has been uncovered to my knowledge, although the
idea makes some sense. Unfortunately for the story, many (or most) of those
seen for sale have new made blades and M7 grips.
Some years ago I picked up a Utica marked M4 that was said to be a
converted WW2 issue. Upon examination, there seemed to be some possibility of
that being the case. The blade appears to be a standard WW2 blade, and the
tang is very rusty as if the original leather grips had gotten damp and then
removed. The grips are early M4 plastic grips, and the guard is a correct WW2
guard. The pommel is held by a typical WW2 sunburst peen. But there are two
problems. The first relates to the guard, which appears to be held to the tang
by rust and friction, no provision having been made to secure it to the blade
or tang. Any type of sharp blow would likely cause it to loosen. The second
area of concern is the pommel, which is unmarked except for the dimple found
on the Turner, Conetta, and Bren-Dan examples shown previously. It is possible
that the pommel was replaced at the time of rebuild, but the lack of guard
support still bothers me. As it stands right now, I am very suspicious of any
M4 that has supposedly been converted from a WW2 production M4 to a plastic
gripped M4. Comments on this bayonet, or on other World War Two reworks to
plastic grips will be welcomed.
Click on thumbnail for full sized image
Here is another one of those bayonets currently being advertised as being
converted from World War 2 production. At first glance it doesn't look too
bad, but taking the grips off reveals a surprise. The guard is a correct WW2
Camillus guard, and the pommel is a correct WW2 Standard Products pommel. The
blade has a 90-degree backcut, but a close look shows that the true edge grind
is not right, as it looks suspiciously like a MilPar blade. When the grips
were removed, it revealed that the blade was actually a M5 or M6 blade,
probably either a factory overrun or one of those left over after MilPar went
out of business and all of their remaining inventory was sold to Century Arms.
The tang peen looks like it was done with a dull center punch, and the grips
are unmarked and hollowed out inside. Strictly a commercial product made for
the "surplus" store trade.
Click on thumbnail for full sized image
This one is a bit of a mystery, but is believed to be a purely commercially
made bayonet. The only markings are U.S.M4 over AKI on the blade side of the
guard, and the M7 grip parts numbers molded inside the grips. The blade is
reasonably well made and ground. The pommel is unmarked, the catches are held
by roll pins, and the tang is smoothly peened. There is a company named AKI
that makes edged tools in Hawaii, but when I contacted them they stated they
had no relationship to this bayonet. One person who posted on a forum stated
the name was the initials of American Korean Industries, but offered no
further information. Any information will be welcomed.
Click on thumbnail for full sized image
One M4 that has caused some confusion has the crossguard marked with the
Ordnance Shell and Flame and U.S.M4 over K.I. The quick assumption is that
this is a Kinfolks Incorporated guard and therefore is a conversion from a
World War 2 bayonet. Unfortunately the marking is not the same as the WW2 mark
in which the Shell and Flame is on the pommel side of the guard instead of
being on the blade side. This is a commercial bayonet, possibly using the K.I.
mark to fool the unwary. If the AKI mark stands for American Korean
Industries, this may stand for Korean Industries, but these are simply guesses
at this time. I have two variants of this bayonet, one with a 90-degree
backcut and the other with a long curved backcut. The guards and pommels are
the same on each, with the unmarked pommels held to the tang by a sunburst
peen. The grips are M7 grips with the part numbers molded in.
Click on thumbnail for full sized image
Several M4s are available that are apparently made in another country,
whether for use by that nation's military or for possible sale. Several are
found that are marked only K-M4 on the blade side of the guard, sometimes with
another mark on the other side of the guard. The guards are of the narrow
World War 2 type rather than the wider style normally found on plastic handled
M4s. Several sources have identified them as having been made in Korea, with
the mark indicating either the place of manufacture or the using service. I
have been able to find no solid information that would support or discredit
this information. One is shown here that is marked with a five segmented
circle, which is identified in the Small Arms Ammunition Guide as being a mark
found on Communist Chinese made cartridges. One of the grips is a US M7 grip,
the other is unmarked. The pommel is unmarked with solid catch retaining pins
and a smooth tang peen. It should be noted that the catches are of the US M7
type (with a flared tip), whereas most of the M4s found have the US style
rounded M4 catches.
Click on thumbnail for full sized image
Another M4 found at times is more likely to be an actual issue item. The
blade side of the guard is marked with a winged anchor with a superimposed
star and two unidentified small marks, while the back side of the guard is
marked with the letters K.L. enclosed in a diamond shaped device. This guard,
like the previous one, is the earlier narrow style. The grips are solid and
unmarked. The pommel is unmarked, with solid catch pins and a rather crudely
done smooth peen. This has been represented as Korean military issue, with
various explanations of the primary mark, including Korean Air Force and
Korean Navy issue. I have no firm information whatever about it.
Click on thumbnail for full sized image
A very commonly found M4 is considerably different in construction from the
others shown. It is marked only US M4 on the blade side of the lower guard.
The blade is found both parkerized and bright, with the bright blade being
apparently some sort of stainless steel. The one-piece grip is molded directly
to the tang, and the solid pommel is attached to the tang with a Phillips head
machine screw. The catches are of the M7 type and are retained by solid pins.
These bayonets are made in Germany by Carl Eickhorn, both for commercial sale
and for sale to the military of other countries.
Click on thumbnail for full sized image
As can be seen, there are far more questions than answers concerning this
series of bayonets. Any information any of you are willing to share concerning
any of these bayonets will be greatly appreciated and will be shared with
others in future editions of this column.
Back to
Bayonet Points Index
Back to Main Index
