Original items: Only One Available. This is a great example of the rare and hard to find U.S. M1917 Enfield bayonet, in very good condition. It comes complete with a rare Maxim Patent Scabbard, which was a design by U.S. inventor Hiram Percy Maxim, inventor of the "Maxim Silencer" and son of Hiram Stevens Maxim whose machine gun played such a large part in both World Wars. The patent 1,276,554 had been applied for on June 20, 1917, and granted on August 20, 1918.

Fully intact scabbards are hard to find and very desirable, because the design was in fact flawed, resulting in many scabbards having the leather "frog" that held the belt clip break off. The scabbard was quickly replaced in service with the second pattern, which had the belt clip attached directly to the metal throat of the scabbard, and existing "Maxim" scabbards that had not already broken were eventually discarded.

However, this example was not discarded, and was modified from the First Pattern to the Second pattern. The bolster for the leather frog was ground down, and then an additional throat piece with a belt clip was attached to the top. This is the first time that we have seen a scabbard like this!

The M1917 bayonet was originally designed to be used with the US M1917 Enfield .30 caliber rifle, as well as with the seven different U.S. trench shotguns. The blade is 17 inches (43.18 cm) long. The M1917 Enfield was the U.S. Version of the British P-14 rifle, and the bayonets used are identical, down to the double groove in the grips, used to differentiate the bayonets from the P-1907 for the SMLE rifle.

This bayonet is in very good condition, and is marked on the blade ricasso with date 1918 over the REMINGTON in a circle manufacturer's mark. The reverse ricasso is marked with the ordnance "Flaming Bomb" over U.S., next to an Eagle / 17 proof mark, for acceptance at Frankford Arsenal. The blade is very good, with the original arsenal sharpening, and a great phosphate finish, with no damage or rust pitting. The bluing on the hilt and ricasso is fully intact, and the original wooden grips have a great color, with the expected small dents and scratches from age and storage.

The scabbard is in very good condition as well, though it does appear to have been repainted once, probably when it was converted to a second pattern. There is an MS marking on the back of the throat, a marking we have seen on other WWI period scabbard hardware.

A great chance to pick up a great condition rare bayonet, with a rare modified Maxim Patent scabbard. Ready to display!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 17"
Blade Style: Single Edge w/ Fuller
Overall length: 21 3/4“
Crossguard: 3 1/8”
Scabbard Length: 18"

More on the M1917 Bayonet

The M1917 bayonet was used first during World War I by American soldiers on the Western Front. A sword bayonet design, the M1917 bayonet design was based on the British P1907 bayonet, which incorporated a long 17-inch blade. While designed primarily for the M1917 rifle the bayonet was fitted for use on all the "trench" shotguns at the time.

The M1917 was used frequently during the several different Banana Wars.

The U.S. continued to use the Word War I-made M1917 bayonets during World War II because of large stockpiles left over. The new Trench Guns being procured and issued were still designed to use the old M1917 bayonet.

The bayonet was again called on during the Korean War for issue with the various Trench guns still in service.