usm4 ? USM3

[fabnatcyr]

HELLO

This bayonet seems to have a blade of usm3 ????

 

[fabnatcyr]

Hello

The marking guard seems PHM

[SKIPH]

No sure if this is original, but it is an interesting piece. Imperial made plastic handled M4s in the 50s, note the late Imperial marked guard. But I'm not getting the Imperial M3, dated blade. M4s were made on M3 converted blades (seldom blade dated), But this has all the correct 50s production parts, w/ the WW2 blade. If it had the WW2 guard, instead of the 50s, I'd say "conversion". But with that 50s guard we can speculate that it could have been made from left over blades, or the stamped blade was faked, then allowed to rust up, and be refinished. Very interesting, but all we can do is guess, or find other Imperials done the same way. Imperial did not waste parts, and made a lot of interesting knives post WW2,and maybe Korea. SKIP

[Misfit 45]

It's a very interesting piece. I do not collect M3s so I am not familiar with all the little variations of blade markings, but here's a pic of another blade marked Imperial M3. The U in US is much narrower on your bayonet. The date font looks a little different, too.

Also, in addressing the plastic handled post WWII M4 by Imperial, (referenced by SKIPH) the latch plate pommel on your bayonet does not conform to the Imperial M4. It looks like it might be a Utica latch plate. Plus the peen on the end is more similar to the WWII style than the post war Imperial.

If your Imperial M4 is a "put together", you might take off the grips and see if the cross guard is welded to the blade. Imperial wouldn't do that.

Definitely an interesting piece.

Marv

[fabnatcyr]

Hello

Thank you all for your answers

Here are some pictures of demontes

The guard is held by a piece bent and not welded

friendly

 

[SKIPH]

Great follow up pictures! Which add to more of the mystery. SKIP