modified MK I bayonet

[usaaf93]

Hello,

 

I live in Eastern France and we usually never see a single USN relic of ww2 over here (we are as far as we can get from the see). I picked up this bayonet for very low.

I am used to see the model for the Garand rifle but not this one.

Is it something modified in the US and sent overseas with the troops or is more something hand made (maybe during the Indochina war period).

 

Thanks

 

[mikedon]

The bayonet is M1905 altered to M1, (M1905E1). The 16" bayonet was cut down to 10".

The sheath was originally made for the The U.S.N. Mark 1 Plastic Training Bayonet but was cut down for use with the M1905E1 bayonet. M1905 16" bayonets are frequently found in the USN MK 1 training bayonet scabbard.

[mikedon]

training bayonet

[917601]

It should be mentioned the alterations to the bayonet were officially authorized by US regulation and hundreds of thousands m1905's were modified for the war effort.

[mikedon]

Thanks 917601, I should have mentioned that. I know the M3 scabbards were modified and shortened to M7, (for the 10" blade length), by crimping the lower part of the mouthpiece against the plastic body. I don't know for sure about the USN MK 1 scabbards when they were shortened. I have only seen a few and they seem to use notches in the plastic body and the same tabs on the mouthpiece if I remember correctly.

[usaaf93]

Thanks to all of you for your help