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Camillus M4 Bayonet CMP South Store purchase


rob30-06
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I picked up this Camillus M4 Bayonet at the CMP South Store this past weekend since it had the look of never being issued, but honestly do not know very much about them.

Can someone tell me approximately when this was made? The guys at the store indicated it was post war.

 

thanks,

Rob

 

 

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This bayonet came from DoD stock according to the CMP as that is where they got it. I wonder what the US would have needed these for this long after the Carbine was put out of service?

 

Rob

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From Gary Cunningham's May 2003 Bayonet Point's:

 

 

 

"In the photo of the guards and markings, several differences can be noted. The 1944 specimen has the narrow guard typical of all World War Two production. The two later versions have the wider guard with the stress relieving half moon cuts near each corner of the blade, which was officially adopted in 1951 after tests at Springfield Armory. The inset on the upper photo shows the Ordnance Shell and Flame mark found on the underside of the guard. Also, look carefully at the M in Camillus and M4 on the 1953 contract and commercial M4s. On the 1953, the center of the M comes down only about 2/3 of the way to the bottom, while on the commercial specimen it comes clear to the bottom."

 

 

 

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rob30-06- Yup! It's a Camillus repro from the 1990s. Don't know how CMP got it, unless someone just turned it in, or a worker traded it for an original. But, it's still a functional M4 bayonet. SKIP

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Guys,

Thanks for the quick replies and great information.

I am not sure how the CMP got them unless they were sent back with other "equipment" from some organization that received things like rifles and accessories from the DoD. Between VFW Posts and ROTC there are probably lots of opportunities.

The guys at the CMP may not be experts on this stuff so they sell it because they received it to sell.

Money goes to a good cause so I am only disappointed that it is not GI, but not upset at all with the CMP since I have received some really nice Garands from them over the years.

 

thanks again for the great information

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If I'm remembering correctly what CMP was asking for M4's with sheath, you probably aren't in bad shape. The M8A1 alone should be around $30 by itself. I've seen the repro Camillus M4's go at auction in the neighborhood of $100, because they are from the old company. Could go for more, could go for less.

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Thanks for that feedback, as it does make me feel a bit better. I guess I will not use it for throwing around the yard and opening dogfood cans afterall :)

 

Rob

If I'm remembering correctly what CMP was asking for M4's with sheath, you probably aren't in bad shape. The M8A1 alone should be around $30 by itself. I've seen the repro Camillus M4's go at auction in the neighborhood of $100, because they are from the old company. Could go for more, could go for less.

 

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"A view of the face of the pommels. Note that the two catch pins on the WW2 specimen are not staked in place, indicating that they are the earlier tapered pins meant to be removed for replacing a damaged catch. About February 1945 the style was changed to a straight pin staked in place (similar to the 1953 specimen). After that, the bayonets were issued as an assembly with no spare parts. Damaged ones were replaced, not repaired. In this view, notice also the starburst peen of the tang on the 1944 and 1953 specimens as compared to the smooth peen of the current commercial model. Also the first two are Parkerized, while the new model is painted black. On the 1944 one, the intertwined SP and the batch? number are visible. Note that both the 1953 contract and modern versions have an X on the pommel, but the location and shape of the X are different."

 

 

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Hello,

 

originally, the latch plate of the 1953 production of Camillus was also sealed with black paint.

 

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