Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice service used Post WWI production M1905 U.S. bayonet with a 10 inch cut-down blade for the M1 Garand Rifle, complete with the correct WWII Issue M7 scabbard. In 1943, the U.S. Army made the decision to shorten the M1905 bayonet's blade to 10 inches (25.4 cm) and as many of the M1905 and M1942 bayonets were recalled, their blades were cut down to size, and were reissued. These shortened M1905 bayonets were re-designated as M1905E1.

The U.S. Army also introduced a new purpose-made shorter M1 bayonet which was designed to be used with the M1 Garand rifle. The M1 bayonet's blade is 10 inches (25.4 cm) long and the handle is 4 inches (10.1 cm) long. Like this example, they are easily identified by the blade fuller, which on a cut-down version runs to the edge of the blade, such as the blade on this example.

These shorter bayonets functioned well in the European theater, where in the rare bayonet-actions of the time they were matched up against the 9​ 3⁄4 inch long blade of the German S84/98 III bayonet fitted on the Karabiner 98k rifle. However, in the Pacific theater, the Japanese used the much longer, 15.75 inches (40.0 cm), bladed Type 30 sword bayonet on the already very long Arisaka rifle, which caused many American troops to retain the longer, unmodified M1905 bayonet.

The blade ricasso is marked with SA for the Springfield Armory in Springfield Mass, the primary center for the manufacture of United States military firearms from 1777 until its closing in 1968. Below this is the Ordnance flaming bomb and date of manufacture 1914. The other side of the ricasso is marked with U.S. above serial number 606711.

On the hilt spine is A. F. H. (American Fork & Hoe of Columbus, Ohio), the company that shortened the bayonet and outfitted it for WWII use. The marking is extremely small and almost unable to be read. The blade is in good shape, with a lot of the original parkerized WWII finish present. There is some wear and oxidation, as expected of a bayonet that has seen this much service. The replacement black ribbed plastic grips are in good shape, with some small chips and dents, and a worn patina.

The original M7 scabbard is marked U.S. on the painted steel throat over the "Flaming Bomb", and is in very good condition. The thermoplastic impregnated cotton fabric scabbard body has no cracks or major chips, however the paint is definitely worn on both sides of the scabbard, showing the underlying "duck canvas" texture. The B N marking on the underside of the metal throat lip indicates manufacture by Beckwith Manufacturing, who produced a variety of thermoplastic impregnated cotton fabric scabbards during the war. The N is for New England Pressed Steel, who made the steel throats under contract with Beckwith.

A very nice example of a WWI Bayonet by Springfield Armory, altered for use in WWII by Union Fork & Hoe. Complete with scabbard and ready to display!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 10"
Blade Style: Single Edged with Fuller
Overall length: 14 1/2“
Crossguard: 3 1/2”
Scabbard Length: 11 1/4"