This example was made by the W. R. Case & Sons Cutlery Co. of Bradford, PA.

It is believed that these modifications were done on Okinawa in the late 1940's or early 1950's, and the bayonets saw use in the Korean War.

The scabbard is an early M8A1, made in 1953. M8A1 scabbards made prior to 1955 did not have the metal tip.

This scabbard was assembled at the Philadelphia Workhouse for the Blind, in Philadelphia, PA. Millions of scabbards were assembled there in the 1950s and 1960s.

The Workhouse was a sheltered workshop that provided employment for the blind. Sheltered schools, workshops, and living arrangements were common until the late 1960s, when social policy was changed to integrate the disabled more fully into society.

This example was made by the Bren-Dan Manufacturing Co., Stamford, CT.

According to noted U.S. bayonet authority Gary Cunningham, it is possible that Bren-Dan Co. is somehow related to Conetta Manufacturing Co. Both firms are of Stamford Connecticut. Like the Conetta bayonets,  Bren-Dan M4 bayonets are somewhat of a mystery. No government records have been discovered to identify when these bayonets were made or how many may have been produced.

The M5 was introduced in 1953 to replace the M1 and M1905E1 bayonets used with the M-1 rifle. The M5 mated the blade of the M4 bayonet with a hilt incorporating a novel attachment system. In place of a muzzle ring, the crosspiece had a steel stud that inserted into the M-1 rifle's gas cylinder lock screw.

This example was made by the Imperial Knife Co. of Providence, Rhode Island.

Carrier measures 10.50 in. (267 mm.) long x 7.375 in. (187 mm.) wide.

This example was made in 1967 and is shown here with US M6 bayonet for the M-14 rifle.

The M6 was very similar to the M5, but used a conventional muzzle ring.

This example was made in 1964 by the Columbus Milpar and Manufacturing Co., Columbus, OH.  According to noted U.S. bayonet authority Gary Cunningham, Milpar delivered 182,000 M-6 bayonets to the U.S. Government in 1964.

Made in 1968, most likely by the Imperial Knife Co., Providence, RI. I observed photos of an identically packaged piece, with the identical package labeling, except it was dated 9/68, instead of 10/68. The package had been opened, revealing that the bayonet inside was made by Imperial.

This example was made in 1970 by the Camillus Cutlery Company, Camillus, NY.

Overall length shown at right is of the folded knife and does not include the lanyard loop.  Overall length with knife blade extended is 6.50 in. (165 mm.).

Macrame tassel attached to lanyard loop was a later addition. Macrame was very popular in the USA from the mid-1960s to the mid-1970s.

The first of Colt's M7 bayonets were made 1961-1962 by Universal Industries of West Haven, CT. They had a green plastic grip that resembled the leather M4 bayonet grip of World War II. Since the M-1 Carbine was still in use, it made more sense that the M7 bayonet use the same black plastic grip parts already adopted for the post-war M4 bayonet.

Colt designated the redesigned bayonet as the "New Model" M7 and assigned it part number 62316 in the Colt inventory. This part number appears on the bayonets commercially made for Colt. The US Government adopted the "New Model" M7 as the Bayonet-Knife M7, in 1964. More than 4 million M7 bayonets were produced during its more than 30-year service life.

This is one of the Colt "New Model" M7 bayonets. According to Colt, 30,000 were made by the Imperial Knife Co.of Providence, Rhode Island in 1963-1964, prior to the US Government issuing its first M7 bayonet contract in May 1964. Carl Eickhorn, in West Germany, also produced private-label M7 bayonets for Colt.

The olive green scabbard body for the Imperial-made Colt bayonet is unique. Unlike other M8A1 scabbards, this scabbard body has a rough crinkle-finish and no metal tip protector.

Crosspiece: "U.S. M7"

Scabbard: "U.S. M8A1"

The Bayonet-Knife Scabbard M10 was developed in 1987, as the supply of M8A1 scabbards began to run out. The M10 scabbard is made of injection-molded plastic, with an integral nylon web belt hanger.

Made in 1989, most likely by the General Cutlery Corporation of Fremont, Ohio. An example observed outside of the factory wrapper was made by General Cutlery. Records at Rock Island Arsenal indicate that General Cutlery delivered 24,400 M-7 bayonets during 1989.

The bayonet is part of the Archangel Manufacturing LLC, 5.56 mm. Advanced Rimfire System kit that alters the rifle into a tactical configuration. The bayonet is intended for display only, however is made of high-strength polymer and has a surprisingly sharp edge and point. Definitely not a toy.