1903 Springfield - Uncut Bayonet - Scabbard Question

[Dannyjunkfish]

Hi guys,

 

Picked up a nice 1903 Springfield Bayonet. 1919 dated and uncut.

 

Does anyone recognize the cloth canvas cover on the scabbard? I am thinking it’s simply a camping post war cover, or Boy Scouts, etc?

 

Just don’t want to discard it, since I don’t recognize it.

 

Thanks for any thoughts,

-Danny

[P-40Warhawk]

That's a nice one, the canvas cover is a 1941 USMC replacement, depot made. Good find!

[P-40Warhawk]

And the USN Mark I scabbards were ordered for use with a bakelite bayonet. Even during the war (and afterward) you can find photos of the scabbards being used with 'real' bayonets. But yes the canvas scabbard cover is absolutely real, and was made by the USMC to replace worn or damaged covers. 

[Dannyjunkfish]

3 minutes ago, P-40Warhawk said:

That's a nice one, the canvas cover is a 1941 USMC replacement, depot made. Good find!

Well that’s cool! That’s wicked cool. No idea what type of web gear it would attach to. The loop on the canvas cover is so small. 
 

I actually have two USMC 1903 rebuilds. Ones a 1938 rebuild. Other is a late ‘41/early ‘42 rebuild.

 

Thanks for the info. I’ll read more into this!

 

-D

[Dannyjunkfish]

2 minutes ago, P-40Warhawk said:

And the USN Mark I scabbards were ordered for use with a bakelite bayonet. Even during the war (and afterward) you can find photos of the scabbards being used with 'real' bayonets. But yes the canvas scabbard cover is absolutely real, and was made by the USMC to replace worn or damaged covers. 

Is the set correct then? Bayonet, scabbard, fiberglass scabbard. All go together? Early USMC set?

[P-40Warhawk]

14 minutes ago, Dannyjunkfish said:

Well that’s cool! That’s wicked cool. No idea what type of web gear it would attach to. The loop on the canvas cover is so small. 
 

I actually have two USMC 1903 rebuilds. Ones a 1938 rebuild. Other is a late ‘41/early ‘42 rebuild.

 

Thanks for the info. I’ll read more into this!

 

-D

Hi, what you need is the metal belt hook, the USMC depot ones were a little different than the standard army ones. You can get a repro hook here https://www.atthefront.com/product-p/ushwmhng.htm

[P-40Warhawk]

13 minutes ago, Dannyjunkfish said:

Is the set correct then? Bayonet, scabbard, fiberglass scabbard. All go together? Early USMC set?

Well you'd only need one scabbard in service, so the USN Mark I scabbard was probably just something either someone kept together or they eventually were brought together. Originally the bayonet would have been issued with the canvas covered scabbard, but it would've had an older Army contract cover on it. When those covers got worn out or damaged beyond repair they would have been replaced with spares. In 1941 the Marines were trying to overhaul every weapon they had, after 20 years of insufficient funding. The army was moving away from the canvas covers, so the Marines made their own at the Philadelphia depot. 

The plastic scabbard would have been ordered by the Navy for use with a plastic training/guard duty bayonet, but sometimes the scabbards would be issued with a real bayonet either through necessity or simply because the storekeeper or quartermaster didn't know or didn't care - a scabbard was a scabbard. 

[Dannyjunkfish]

29 minutes ago, P-40Warhawk said:

Well you'd only need one scabbard in service, so the USN Mark I scabbard was probably just something either someone kept together or they eventually were brought together. Originally the bayonet would have been issued with the canvas covered scabbard, but it would've had an older Army contract cover on it. When those covers got worn out or damaged beyond repair they would have been replaced with spares. In 1941 the Marines were trying to overhaul every weapon they had, after 20 years of insufficient funding. The army was moving away from the canvas covers, so the Marines made their own at the Philadelphia depot. 

The plastic scabbard would have been ordered by the Navy for use with a plastic training/guard duty bayonet, but sometimes the scabbards would be issued with a real bayonet either through necessity or simply because the storekeeper or quartermaster didn't know or didn't care - a scabbard was a scabbard. 

Thanks for the explanation! Gotcha, the USMC cover was simply made to go over the standard canvas 1903 scabbard cover. When they were worn out. These were used basically like a sock then. From my understanding. 
 

I just wasn’t sure if the Navy fiberglass one was a correct USMC one too. Since the navy and USMC seemed to share gear a fair amount. 

[Brian Dentino]

Great set of a long serving bayonet and yes both scabbards are 100% correct and desirable to have in your collection.

[WarBaby]

That one is a stunner. 👍

[Dannyjunkfish]

23 hours ago, Brian Dentino said:

Great set of a long serving bayonet and yes both scabbards are 100% correct and desirable to have in your collection.

Thanks for the info. I’ll probably try to find an original canvas/rawhide scabbard cover (saltier the better). So I can utilize this USMC cover.

[Dannyjunkfish]

1 hour ago, WarBaby said:

That one is a stunner. 👍

Not a bad one!

[Dannyjunkfish]

Picked up an original wood and rawhide scabbard. The USMC cover looks good on it. Probably a little shrinkage from age. 
 

Now I’ll order the ATF USMC wire hanger. 

[Dannyjunkfish]

Somewhat fortunate. The “new” bayonet I bought. Was just the bayonet and the wood/rawhide scabbard, no canvas cover.

Perfect that the “new” set didn’t have the canvas cover. So I could utilize the USMC canvas one. 
 

The “new” bayonet now resides in the navy fiberglass scabbard. 
 

Don’t need two uncut bayonets. I’ll probably put this “new” set on the trader when I gain access.

[hyrax222]

Dannyjunkfish-

 

You said," "Dont need two uncut bayonets." I don't need two either, but they breed like rats, once you have them.

 

hyrax222

 

 

[Dannyjunkfish]

1 hour ago, hyrax222 said:

Dannyjunkfish-

 

You said," "Dont need two uncut bayonets." I don't need two either, but they breed like rats, once you have them.

 

hyrax222

 

 

Dang nab-bit. Oh choices lol. 
 

Heck of display!