Conetta M7 bayonet real or made up?

[PaulS]

I have received a M7 bayonet, my first made by Conetta and it has some features not seen on my other 60's M7 bayonets. The side of the cross piece has two areas where it looks like it was removed from a sprue. Also is the peening on top of pommel correct for Conetta? The "o" in Conetta does not seem to be closed. Is this an issue?

[Misfit 45]

Hi,

You are right about the cross guard not being finished, that's weird. I think that one just snuck through. However, the marking is fine and the pommel peen is fine. Conetta used the more common peen on many of their M7s, but some have the same peen as on their M4. I have a Conetta M7 with the earlier peen. As far as the "O" in Conetta goes, I think the die may have had a flaw since the mark certainly seems deep enough to have completed the O. Nice bayonet.

Marv

[PaulS]

Thank you Marv, for your help. I was looking into my collection and I found another Conetta made M7 and the peening on the pommel looks the same as my BOC. Is this ok also? Do you know of a good in depth reference book on either m7s or US bayonets?

[Misfit 45]

Hi,

Glad I can help. The first place to go for great US bayonet information is "Bayonet Points" http://www.usmilitaryknives.com/bayonet_points.htm scroll down to the bottom of the page to access the topics. The next thing to do is buy "U.S. Knife Bayonets & Scabbards" by Gary Cunningham. It's the best book out there for 20th century bayonets. Don't be shy about asking your questions here on this forum. There are so many knowledgeable collectors here it is amazing.

 

As for your Conetta M7s, now you have both examples of the pommel peen used on them. Also, I should mention that Conetta is the only manufacturer that marked their M7s on the end of the cross guard. It is similar to the placement of the M4 markings that makers used during WWII.

Marv

[PaulS]

Thanks again Marv for your help. I better find that book before my luck runs out!! I know bayonet points and have found it very useful. This is the most help I have ever received on a post normally it's crickets. So thank you and the guys on my other posts who helped me either directly or who helped me help myself with reference material. It is disappointing when you spend money on reference material and find out it either doesn't cover what you needed to know or only tells you what you already know.