Porter's Report
By Bill Porter
May 2005
Back in March I started putting together a column shortly after attending the Baltimore Show and Society of American Bayonet Collectors annual banquet. Then everything else in my life got crazy and by the time I got back to the column it was already time for the May column. As I stated last year, if you’re a regular visitor to this site, then you should check out the Baltimore show and if you aren’t a member of the SABC, you should be. If you’d like more information on joining this fine organization, drop me a line.
Now for a shameless plug; I’ve been nominated for a Director-at-Large position on the Board of Directors of the SABC. I’d appreciate the support of any SABC members out there when casting your ballot at the end of the year. (I’ll remind you in December.)
Update
I picked up some new pieces and some upgrades in Baltimore, most of them from my good friend Jim Maddox. The first was a group of five South Korean bayonets, four of which have already been featured here. Those of you whom have handled any of the surplus Korean bayonets that came into the country several years ago know that they were pretty well used. These bayonets that Jim had are probably the best condition pieces I’ve ever seen. They were so nice that I had to get them as upgrades to the pieces I already have. I’ve posted pictures below, please look back at the original posting for details.
South Korean M1 Bayonet
http://www.usmilitaryknives.com/porters_page_1.htm
South Korean M4-modified
http://www.usmilitaryknives.com/porters_page_10.htm
South Korean M5A1 Bayonet
http://www.usmilitaryknives.com/porters_page_5.htm
South Korean M4 Bayonet
http://www.usmilitaryknives.com/porters_page_11.htmThe fifth bayonet from the group is a South Korean M7, which will be featured at a later date. Jim also passed along a couple other pieces:
Unmarked M1 Garand Bayonet
This bayonet is a very well made, completely unmarked M1. There are no markings anywhere on the bayonet, latch mechanism parts or the grips. M. H. Cole in U.S. Military Knives, Bayonets and Machetes Book IV pictures a similar bayonet. It is identified there as being manufactured by the German firm of E. F. Horster.
The bayonet pictured in Cole’s book is shown with a standard US scabbard. The featured bayonet has a scabbard that looks like a US M7 but there are some very notable differences. The steel throat is completely unmarked. The green scabbard body is not fiberglass but appears to be an injection molded plastic. It has noticeable mold marks on the front and back. There is a drain hole at the tip of the scabbard body on the back side.
Overall length 372 mm
Blade length 252 mm
Blade thickness 5.7 mm
Blade width 26.6 mm
(Frank's Note, could this be the elusive Belgian Made M1 bayonet and M7 scabbard we just found the document for???)
Spanish CETME Bayonet
The identification of this bayonet is based on Kiesling’s Bayonets of the World, Volume 1. Kiesling states that this is a prototype bayonet made by the Dutch firm NWM. This bayonet started off as a 1943 dated OL US M1. At a quick glance it looks like the original crossguard was changed and a new cast guard with a larger muzzle ring was added. Upon closer examination, it is obvious that a new ring was welded to the original crossguard. When the grips are removed the original stock number is visible on the face of the crossguard.
The bayonet is equipped with a standard US M7 scabbard.
There is a major difference of opinion as to the identification of this bayonet, especially from our Spanish friends. As I stated previously, I’m going strictly by the information in Kiesling and the French ABC book.
Overall length 371 mm
Blade length 253 mm
Blade thickness 5.7 mm
Blade width 26.6 mm
MR Diameter 22.0 mm
I also picked up a Swiss prototype PE57 bayonet and a French experimental M1928 (serial #1) bayonet in Baltimore, but we’ll spare you the details on these non-US pieces. Next month we’ll get back to the topic of foreign manufactured bayonets for the US M16 rifle. I’ve received some emails and photos from our readers that I will also share with you. As always, I welcome your comments and especially your contributions. If you have anything to add to the above please drop me an email at porterkids@aol.com
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