welcome to the world of weapons: July 2013

Wednesday, 17 July 2013

M4 Bayonet

M4 Bayonet

M4 Bayonet

Thursday, 11 July 2013

M5 bayonet

M5 bayonet

M5 bayonet

The M5 Bayonet was adopted by the U.S. Military in 1953 to replace other bayonets for the M1 Garand. It uses the M8A1 scabbard.

Background

During the Korean War, the M1 bayonet and M1905 bayonet which mount to the M1 Garand, were proven difficult to remove with gloves on. As a result the U.S. M5 Garand bayonet was designed and issued in 1953. This was a total redesign and looks nothing like the original M1905 or M1 bayonets for the M1 Garand. The M5 is the only U.S. bayonet without a barrel mount ring on the crossguard, making it look more like a fighting knife than a bayonet.

Description

The M5 bayonet has a 6¾ inch blade, and overall length is 11½ inches. Weight is 11½ ounces. The blade has one side sharpened for its full length and three inches of the other side are sharpened. There is a relatively large push button release to deal with removal while wearing gloves.

The stud on the bayonet crossguard fits the gas cylinder lock screw under the M-1 Garand barrel. Locking grooves attach to the bayonet lug on the rifle. The M5 fits only the M-1 Garand and does not interchange with any other firearms.

There were three different patterns made: M5, M5-1 and M5A1.

The grips are checkered black molded plastic and all metal parts are a dark gray parkerized finish. There are no markings on the blade. The manufacturer name or initials and "US M5" (or other model) will be found stamped under the cross guard. Many M5 family bayonets were made in Korea after the Korean War and these will have "K" stamped in place of the "US". Manufacturers included Aerial Cutlery, Jones & Dickinson Tool, Imperial Knife, Utica Cutlery, and Columbus Milpar & Mfg. The M5A1 was manufactured during the 1960s and was the last bayonet made for the M1 Garand.

Scabbard

There are two variations of this scabbard, both with an olive drab fiberglass body with steel throat. The early version, designated M8, has only a belt loop, no hook. The M8A1 retains the general look and can be slipped over a belt, but also has the M1910 bent wire hook available. The model is stamped "US M8" or "US M8A1" on the flat steel part along with manufacturer initials. This sheath is correct for all post-war US bayonets including the M4, M5, M6, and M7. It was also used with the M3 Fighting Knife.

Sunday, 7 July 2013

M6 bayonet

M6 bayonet

M6 bayonet

The M6 Bayonet is a bayonet used by the U.S. military for the M14 rifle. It was introduced in 1957, at the same time as the rifle itself.It is the only type of bayonet made for the M14, and the only other rifle it fits is the civilian version of the M14, the M1A.

Like its predecessor, the M5 bayonet for the M1 Garand rifle, the M6 was intended to serve additional roles as a combat knife and utility knife. The basic blade design was like the M4, M5, and later M7 bayonets, based on the World War II designed M3 Trench Knife.The overall length of the M6 is 11 3/8 inches, with a blade 6 5/8 inches long. Contractors who manufactured the M6 included Aerial Cutlery Co., Columbus Milpar and Mfg. Co. and Imperial Knife Co.

The M6 was replaced by the M7 bayonet after the Vietnam War, when the M16 Rifle was adopted by both the United States Army and Marine Corps as the standard service rifle. The most notable differences between the two are the diameter of the muzzle rings, the shape of the handle, and the locking mechanism. The M6 has a spring-loaded lever near the guard that when depressed releases the bayonet, and the M7's release mechanism is on the pommel. Both models are the same length, have the same black finish, and use the M8A1 sheath.

Today, the M6 is mainly used for ceremonial purposes, particularly by the Navy and Marine Corps, both of which still use the M14 rifle for exhibition drill.

Wednesday, 3 July 2013

M7 bayonet

M7 bayonet

The M7 Bayonet is a bayonet that was used by the U.S. military for the M16 rifle, it can also be used for the M4A1 carbine. It was introduced in 1964, when the M16 entered service during the Vietnam War.

The M7 is based on the older M6 bayonet for the M14 rifle. The most notable differences between the two are the diameter of the muzzle rings, and the locking mechanism. The M7's release mechanism is on the pommel, while the M6 has a spring-loaded lever near the guard that when depressed releases the bayonet. Both models are approximately the same length, have the same black finish, and use the M8A1, or later M10 sheath.

The NSN for the M7 bayonet is 1095-00-073-9238.

The M7 was partially replaced by the M9 bayonet in Army service. And the Marine Corps replaced it by the OKC-3S bayonet. The Army, Navy, and USAF still use M-7s and may do so for years to come.

The M7 was manufactured in the United States, Canada, West Germany, the Philippines, Singapore, and South Korea.