April 8, 201412 yr #2 My PAL M4 has the ordinance bomb in the same location. The stamp on mine is very weak, but is similar in size. Maybe someone has a clearer stamp, they could post. SKIP
April 8, 201412 yr #3 PAL had a very light Ordnance stamp. The one in my reference collection is even lighter than the one shown.
April 8, 201412 yr Author #5 my concern is that I have seen 2 other PAL M4 and the ord bomb was different then this one
April 8, 201412 yr #6 The Ordnance Bomb on my M4 Pal is lightly struck but looks the same as the OP's M4.
April 9, 201412 yr #7 I wonder if the inspectors would have their own stamp and depending on who was assigned where might account for the tendency to see patterns in the typical stamp found with different makers blades.
April 9, 201412 yr #8 sactroop- I suspect you're correct in your question. Seems like every maker has a different size a difference in detail, and location. Good example is the M3s, All sizes and detail to include a real tiny one stamped on the rim of the pommel on early PAL dated M3s. near the two pins. SKIP
April 9, 201412 yr Author #9 Thx for all the comments - well I looked hard at this bayonet again and I think the blade is a modern one. There was a M4 Utica discussed on an earlier thread and it was noted about the perpendicular marks on the blade and this was a modern tooling method as Skip noted (thx for the info!!!). I think a PAL guard on a modern blade? thx mike
April 9, 201412 yr #10 As far as detecting the newer "rebuilds", the latch plate (pommel) is usually a giveaway.
April 9, 201412 yr Author #11 Here is a picture of the pommel - looks like a SP. Thanks Gary for your Bayonets points web page - That has helped me a lot!! As a note you mention that you haven't noted a M1 PAL bayonet with a 'H' on the butt of the pommel - I just got one
April 9, 201412 yr #13 Mike-I think your PAL is legit. The blade has the grind marks, but they're smaller and closer that the ones on the Utica. Your pommel is correct, SP stamp, pins not flush, tang is peened.. I truly believe you have a good PAL, plus it has the plastic spacers in the handle. PAL included those in their M4s. When you evaluate a knife or bayonet, you have to take the whole piece into consideration. The Utica had all kinds of issues. Your PAL does not. Gary is right, the pommel is the key. SKIP
April 9, 201412 yr #15 Pal had quality control problems during their production, to a point where it was suggested that production be stopped at the plant until the problems could be worked out. To some degree this was blamed on Pal being a relatively new company to the industry, with their plant actually beginning production in 1941 so they did not have a large pool of skilled plant workers to draw on.
April 17, 201412 yr #16 M1PAL with 'H' marking I also have a PAL M1 bayonet with the H marking, same location as this one. Dan
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