Description
WW2 Camillus M4 bayonet, rare cast aluminum handle type, original Victory Plastics BM Co. M8 composition scabbard. Rare type in excellent condition, considering the age. FREE EXPEDITED SHIPPING WITHIN THE U.S. FOR THIS ITEM.
Original WW2 era manufacture M4 bayonet for the M1 carbine; this specimen was manufactured by Camillus Cutlery in Camillus, NY. This M4 comes with the original early-issue M8 composition scabbard; both are in excellent condition. This type was intended to be used as a bayonet on a M1 carbine but it was mostly utilized as a fighting and utility knife, just like its “big brother” M3 Trench knife. Both edged weapons were quite popular with the troops; see the WW2 era photo of similar M4 bayonets on US 17th Airborne Division troops firing the M18 recoilless rifle at German positions somewhere around Essen, Germany (the photo is used as a reference only and will not be included with the lot).
This original WW-2 era production M4 is a rare aluminum grips type. It came out of an old collection and the previous owner had labeled it as “experimental aluminum handle M4 bayonet“. According to most recent expert opinions, this type was probably a part of a small rebuilt batch that was intended for service in the Korean War (some say Vietnam War). The retrofit would make sense as during the Korean War there was a shortage of serviceable M4 bayonets – stacked leather handles on most WW2 production M4 bayonets and M3 knives have deteriorated and most were unusable. A number of conversions and rebuilds were ordered; this specimen is probably one of them.
Another one of such conversions to a more practical “rubber” handle was handled by Japan Logistical Command as labor costs were much lower in Japan than at Springfield Armory, as was originally planned. Overall, the US Ordnance Dept. had paid for the conversion of 58,522 WW2 era M3/M4s. All “upgraded” M4 bayonets were sent from Japan directly to the troops in Korea; this type is hard-to-find nowadays.
This M4 is about 11-1/2” / 29.2 cm overall; the blade is about 6-1/2″ / 16.5 cm long. The blade seems to be factory-original edge; it has not been re-sharpened; the edge is very sharp still; the tip is intact. Cast aluminum scales handle is tight; all parts are solid with no play. The muzzle ring is marked U.S. M4 / CAMILLUS on the top; “flaming bomb” US ordinance mark on the underside. Original M8 scabbard is in excellent shape, considering the age; no dings on the steel throat or cracks/chips on the composite plastic. The webbing is intact; all original stitching is intact; the keeper is nice and tight; repainted steel throat’s underside is marked with what looks like B-3/3-N. This scabbard was manufactured by Beckwith Mfg Co. (BM CO.) division of Victory Plastics.
This rare Korean War conversion / WW2 Camillus M4 bayonet is in very good shape overall. These are the actual photos; Garand clips are not included with the knife 
I have a few more WW2 US-made bayonets, as well as some scarce WW1 and WW2 era fighting daggers and trench knives made in the US, Great Britain, France, Germany, and other countries available for sale – please take a look in the Militaria section.
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FREE USPS PRIORITY MAIL SHIPPING WITHIN THE U.S. FOR THIS ITEM
No shipping to Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Japan, or the UK/Ireland for this item, sorry. International shipping to other countries for this item will be $55 and up to most countries on our “ship-to” list.
