September Update:
We heard from a couple of people with additional information on the pieces that were posted last month. First was our host, Frank Trzaska. Anyone who knows Frank knows that if you give him a multi-digit number with a couple of dashes thrown in, he immediately starts to tract that number. Frank writes:
That picture of the wrapper put me on the trail with the NSN number. Did
you
know that is a good number for the Navy? They call it an M5 bayonet and it
fits the description! This may be a South Korean bayonet but it also is a US
Navy Issue one too!
Characteristics Data Response for NSN 1005-00-726-6556
Item Name: BAYONET-KNIFE
MRC Requirement Statement Clear Text Reply
NAME ITEM NAME BAYONET-KNIFE
ABHP OVERALL LENGTH 11.510 INCHES NOMINAL
AEAE BLADE LENGTH 5.750 INCHES NOMINAL
AEAF BLADE WIDTH 0.875 INCHES NOMINAL
AETC METALLIC HARDNESS RATING 47.0 MINIMUM ROCKWELL C
53.0 MAXIMUM ROCKWELL C
AHVQ WEAPON FOR WHICH DESIGNED RIFLE
AJBG BLADE THICKNESS 0.195 INCHES NOMINAL
AJLC BLADE MATERIAL STEEL, QQ-S-633-CANCELED
ALGY PROTECTIVE GUARD INCLUDED
AMWN MODEL NUMBER M5
I checked the bayonet that came out of the wrapper and it does not come close to the dimensions listed for the NSN number. I also checked my US and South Korean manufactured M5s and again, no luck matching up the dimensions. Looks like a mystery to me; a US Navy bayonet classified as an M5 with a 5-3/4" blade and a 5-3/4" hilt. Can anyone help with this one?
Our other new information pertains to the Indonesian M1. Otto at www.ebayonet.com sent me photos of an Indonesian M1 with wood grips. I remember seeing these several years ago. The grips are similar in design to those on the British No. 5 Jungle Carbine bayonet. They wrap around the bottom portion of the tang and have a center seam. The grips are secured with Philips head machine screws and Hex nuts.
Otto's bayonet photo, click on thumbnail to see full size photo
A big thank you to Frank and Otto for sharing this additional information with us.
October 1, 2003
This month we’ll continue with the foreign made bayonets for the US M1 Rifle. Here are three more examples for your viewing pleasure. Once again, I look forward to anyone with specific knowledge on these or the previously posted bayonets to contact me and we will post that information here in follow up installments.
Japanese M5 Bayonet
This bayonet is practically identical to the US manufactured M5. The machining work on the blade and component parts is very well done. Machine marks are clearly visible on the blade, but the blade has very clean lines and has a better finished look than the standard US M5. The bayonet is fabricated the same as the US made bayonet. The blade carries the manufacturer’s marking, KIFFE over JAPAN. The rest of the bayonet is unmarked. The scabbard is a standard US M8 scabbard.
According to Larry Johnson, author of Japanese Bayonets, there are two variations of this bayonet with the difference being in the length of the false edge.
Overall length 286 mm
Blade length 167 mm
Blade thickness 4.5 mm
Blade width 21.1 mm
Click on thumbnails for full size photos
Japanese Self-Defense Force M1
This bayonet is identical to the US manufactured M1 bayonet. The right ricasso is marked with the standard flaming bomb with the letters N P above and J below. These bayonets were made shortly after World War II. Jerry Janzen states in his book that they were produced in 1952 for the Japanese National Police and the letters stand for National Police, Japan. Other sources say the markings are representative of the manufacturer, Nippon Products Japan.
This bayonet is often found in the standard US M7 scabbard. There are also several different Japanese-made scabbards for this bayonet. Three examples are shown. The first example (A) has a fiberglass body with a standard M7 style throat. The fiberglass used in constructing the body of the scabbard has a very coarse weave that is visibly noticeable. The front of the scabbard throat is marked with a symbol representing Howa Machinery, Ltd.
The second scabbard (B) has a plastic body with two circular mold marks on the front and back. The metal throat is riveted together with two small hollow rivets on each side. The front of the throat is marked with the letters US over J inside a flaming bomb.
The third scabbard (C) also has a plastic body, identical to the previous scabbard. The metal throat on this scabbard is the same as that on the (A) scabbard, marked on the front with Howa Machinery, Ltd. symbol.
These bayonets show up from time to time at shows and on auctions but are usually in US scabbards. The scabbards are much more difficult to locate.
Overall length 372 mm
Blade length 253 mm
Blade thickness 5.7 mm
Blade width 26.4 mm
Click on thumbnails for full size photos
Taiwanese M1 Bayonet
This is another example of a foreign manufactured bayonet that is identical in appearance to its US counterpart. The bayonet was manufactured in Taiwan. The blade is marked 60-6 over a symbol and the letters KS. It is believed that the 60-6 stands for June 1960, a possible date of manufacture. The grips are marked on the interior surface with M1 KS and a symbol, believed to be right and left.
All the scabbards I’ve seen have had the front of the throat ground. I believe they were old US M7 scabbard throats and the marks were removed by grinding. The scabbard body has a symbol of some type on the front and back, molded right into the plastic. The entire scabbard is painted with a dark green paint.
Overall length 370 mm
Blade length 251 mm
Blade thickness 5.7 mm
Blade width 26.4 mm
Click on thumbnails for full size photos
Well, that’s it for this month. More to come next month If you have any information on the above bayonets or if you’d like to see a specific piece posted, you can contact me at porterkids@aol.com