Description
Hard to find pre-WW1 era manufacture M1905 bayonet dated manufactured in 1943 by American Fork and Hoe Company (AFH) under the government contract during the war. A scarce type in general – most of the original M1905 bayonets were cut-down and re-furbished as the “short pattern” bayonets often referred to as M1942. Most of the “long” AFH M1905 bayonets were cut-down in the following year; an unaltered, blade-dated specimens are rare nowadays. This bayonet is stamped AFH US/ “flaming bomb” / 1943 on the ricasso on one side; this is a superb quality manufacture bayonet with clean and crisp lines; about 60% of the original bluing remaining.
Also, this is a very rare “brown grips” type specimen – just a tiny batch of WW2 grips came in brown plastic; most were made as standard-issue black plastic (phenol-formaldehyde resin similar to Bakelite) – a nice find! Brown grips were made from an earlier type of plastic (commonly called CAB) that wasn’t resistant to the solvents the army was using in the field, so the production of the CAB plastic grips was quickly discontinued. Only about 100,000 brown CAB grips were made in total; most were lost to the use and abuse in the field. “Brown-grips” bayonets were manufactured for about a month; a rare find these days.
Muzzle ring is intact; brown plastic handle grips are in very good condition with no nicks, dings, or cracks. No contact marks on the pommel. Bayonet release mechanism is nice and tight and 100% functional. The bayonet is about 20-1/2″ / 52 cm overall; the blade is about 16″ / 40.5 cm long; no edge nicks or dings on the spine, the tip is intact. Original “long” composition scabbard with MK1-marked steel throat is in great condition. The underside plate is marked B3/1N. Steel throat is marked USN / MK 1 . The US War Department had told the manufactures to “waste nothing”, so they used whatever material was suitable during production, including the unused quantity of scabbard parts intended for training bayonets and discontinued USN MK1 Utility Knife.
Overall, this rare uncut “brown grips type” WW2 AFH 1943 M1905 bayonet and its original MK1 composition scabbard are in excellent condition. A desirable and highly collectible type; VERY rare this nice. This original WW2 AFH 1943 M1905 bayonet has not been cleaned or tampered with in any way, 100% original condition; these are the actual photos. I have a few more American bayonets and fighting knives, as well as some scarce European WW2 and WW1 fighting knives, daggers, trench knives and bayonets available for sale – please take a look in our Militaria section.
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Domestic US shipping for this item is $28 via USPS Priority Mail.
International shipping for this item will be $99 and up for most countries on our “ship-to” list.
