Wtk: Standardization of U.S. bayonets

[SPEEDGUNNER]

Now here is a question (and why am I thinking of it on Christmas morning I cannot explain), why didn't the U.S. standardize the bayonet between the rifles (03, 03A3, Garand), and the 1917 and trench shotguns? Seems stupid to have bayonets with different attaching mechanisms in the supply system.

Oh, and....

[Dan Shapiro]

"why didn't the U.S. standardize the bayonet between the rifles (03, 03A3, Garand)"

To my knowledge, they did. To throw a curve, the Krag bayonet was used at West Point on the Krag, the '03 and the M1.

[desert guy]

Speedgunner: Bayonetman will probably put it into perspective much better, but as for the M1917 bayonet, it was patterned after the British designed bayonet M1907/M1913 and rushed into production for WWI. The M1917 bayonet ended up being used on the "trench guns" as it was the bayaonet most prevalent in the AEF when the shotguns were fielded. Then the trench-gun bayonet wasn't changed until after Vietnam War. The M1905/M1 bayonet was sort of standized for the M1903/M1903A3/M1 to a point (pun intended). Semper Fi.

[Maury Krupp]

If you mean standardize on one bayonet for all rifles and trenchguns instead of one for the M1903/M1 and another for the M1917/trenchguns it's probably a combination of:

-Production facilities were already in place for the M1917 bayonet (also the reason for adopting the M1917 rifle)

-M1917s and trenchguns were both seen as wartime emergency items. As soon as the war ended they would be sold off or put in storage leaving only the M1905 in the system

-If the Army didn't care about standardizing on one rifle why would it care about standardizing on one bayonet?

Maury

[SPEEDGUNNER]

Maury, thanks for your comment. "If you mean standardize on one bayonet for all rifles and trenchguns instead of..." this is exactly what I am asking.

Your reasoning regarding the shotguns and 1917's makes perfect sense.

[jaie5070]

I love my 1917 enfields, But I'm still amazed that the british contracted with the US firms to build a new rifle instead of what was in use at the time.
john

[Sunray]

"...they did..." Yep. The 03, 03A3 and Garand used the same bayonet. Some trench shotguns did too. The M1917 was not the same rifle.
"...amazed that the British contracted with the US firms to..." Not enough wartime production facilities. The Empire needed rifles made that wouldn't require re-tooling existing factories or building new factories. The original plan was to replace the SMLE and the .303 with a .276" cartridge, but production problems and W.W. I starting in 1914, got in the way. U.S. manufacturers were available and willing.