Wooden handle M4 bayonet

[Barryeye]

Gentleman I have just agreed to buy a very nice wood handled M4 bayonet at a good price. My research indicates that these bayonets may well have seen limited action in Korea. I would love to have this confirmed and if possible with a picture. Also I'd be grateful if anyone has an indication as to how many of these bayonets were made/converted.Come to think about it any information about them would be most welcome.utica wood.jpg

[dave]

I do not think they are US converted but rather a European country. Either new made or rebuilt? Some one who knows for sure will chime in, I'm sure.

[M1Garandy]

Take a look here (down near the bottom): http://www.usmilitaryknives.com/bayo_points_17.htm

[Barryeye]

Thanks M1Garandy. That sums up what little I know. I guess we may never find out the complete story. Odd as they were made/converted not so long ago.

[Barryeye]

hi Dave. The picture I am getting is that these bayonets were rebuilt at a U.S.facility outside of the U.S. Possibly the Phillipines or Okanawa (spell). Damaged leather gripped M.4s were totally refurbished, striped of their leather handles, replaced with wood ones and reissued. I've read that there are photos of "Turkish" troops in Korea with these bayonets but have never seen these for myself. As a big fan of the M3/4 blade format I have convinced myself that these wooden handled M4s do have a place in the history of M4 development.

[Misfit-45]

Here are the two pictures of wood handle M4 bayonets in a combat zone. Both are supposed to be in Korea.
Marv

[Major Tom]

Whatever it is, it still is neat!

[dave]

I was in Korea, during which time I sent home a M1 and M4 bayo. The cease fire was in effect (1954) and the bayo's I had came out of a equipment dump set up by the US. Much of the stuff was damaged, broken, etc. But by routing thru it you cold find good items. No fire arms were in the mix. I do not know what became of that stuff but imagine it was left to the So. Korean Military. I never ran into any Turks, nor saw any m4's with wood handles. However I saw very few, and paid less attention, except those in my Squadron. We were issued MI carbines.

[Barryeye]

Many thanks Misfit. That is exactly what I was looking for. You have made my day. :-)

[Barryeye]

Thanks dave. There is nothing like information that comes straight from the horses mouth, if you will forgive the expression. I am also an M1 Carbine fan. As a user how did you rate the carbine as a weapon ? (I know off topic but only just).

[dave]

I was lucky, altho stationed in a "combat zone" we never saw any combat so I can not rate it as a 'weapon'. Stood guard with it, were supposed to carry it off base, but never did. I was about 20-30 miles south of DMZ at the time. I drove to Soaul Hq. (sp.?) most every day as courier, carried a .45. I own 3 now, for my small US military collection. Like shooting them, at my age M1's are getting too heavy and recoil too much!

[Barryeye]

Well thank you for your frank opinion Dave. I’ve got a couple of carbines but they only get shot under range conditions. Even here carbines are getting expensive. Hence my interest in their bayonets as I can’t afford to add more carbines to my small collection. I guess it is just coincidence that my favourite firearm is the M1 Carbine and favourite knife the M3. The M4 bayonet is the natural bridge between the two.

[dave]

We, I, was never issued a bayo for the carbine in Korea. Never had any training on how to use it on the end of a gun anyway, so it would not have done any good! I was in the AF, we were not supposed to fight, we were 'technicians'. He,he,he!