Description
WW2 Utica M4 bayonet with Korean War era rubber handle, original Victory Plastics BM Co. M8 composition scabbard. Rare type in excellent overall condition, considering the age. FREE EXPEDITED SHIPPING WITHIN THE U.S. FOR THIS ITEM.
Original WW2 era manufacture M3 fighting knife that was later converted to M4 bayonet for the M1 carbine during the Korean War- a rare type. The original M3 was manufactured by Utica Cutlery in Utica, NY. Originally, the M4 was intended to be used as a bayonet on a M1 carbine but during WW2 it was mostly utilized as a fighting and utility knife, just like its “big brother” M3 Trench knife. Both edged weapons were popular with the troops and were used expensively in all theaters of the war. 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. On the second WW2 ear photo taken past the Siegfried line in Germany one can clearly see that US M1 carabines did not come with a lug under the barrel to attach a bayonet (these photos are used as a reference only and will not be included with the lot).
After WW2 many tens of thousands of M4s were refurbished and used extensively during the Korean War; many more were transferred to the member countries’ militaries after the NATO block was established. This M4 is one of those “Korean War refurbished” specimens and has quite a bit of a story behind it. During the Korean War there was a shortage of M4 bayonets as stacked leather handles on most WW2 production M4 bayonets and M3 knives have deteriorated which left most of them unusable. This M4 bayonet has a blade that came off a rare early WW2 blade-marked Utica M3 fighting knife which after WW2 was disassembled, the blade was re-finished, parkerized, than converted into M4 bayonet configuration. Original leather washers were replaced with the rubber handle to serve in the Korean War. The conversion to a more practical “rubber” handle was handled by the US Army Japan Logistical Command as labor costs were much lower in Japan than at Springfield Armory, as was originally planned. Overall, the US Ordnance Department 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, especially in decent collectable grades.
This M4 is about 11-1/2” / 29.2 cm overall; the blade is about 6-5/8″ / 16.8 cm long. Parkerized finish is intact; the edge is very sharp still; the tip is intact. Solid rubber handle is tight; all parts are solid with no play. The bale is marked U.S. M3 UTICA on the side; muzzle ring is unmarked. Original M8A1 scabbard is in very good 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; steel throat’s underside is marked with what looks like B3/9N. This scabbard was manufactured by Beckwith Mfg Co. (BM CO.) division of Victory Plastics.
This rare Korean War conversion / WW2 Utica M4 bayonet is in very good shape overall. These are the actual photos; spent brass is 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.
For collectible knives and edged weapons Argocoins accepts payments via credit cards, personal checks drawn from US-based accounts, certified US-based bank checks, and money orders. Take a look at the Payments section within our Terms and Conditions for mailing instructions and additional details. Please email me at info@argocoins.com if you would like to make a credit card purchase over the phone. Follow me on Facebook @argoman400BC to keep an eye on the latest additions and promotions.
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 $73 and up to most countries on our “ship-to” list.
