Original U.S. WWII M4 Bayonet by PAL for the M1 Carbine with Vietnam War M8A1 Scabbard & Rare Molded Rubber Handle

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice WWII U.S. Army M4 Carbine bayonet fighting knife, with an original M8A1 scabbard. Nicely marked U.S. M4 / PAL on the blade side of the hand guard for the PAL Cutlery Company. The blade shows heavy use with some sharpening. This example has a very rare molded rubber handle. The crossguard, handle, and pommel are all tight to the blade.

The bayonet has a molded rubber handle instead of the stacked leather. Solid information on these types of handles are rather scant with the little information present are only assumptions made. Although there has been a general assumption that they were done to replace leather handles which were deteriorating due to the dampness of the tropical environment and then re-issued for use during the Korean War. The pommel is held on by the correct peened over tang, but is without the Ordnance Flaming Bomb marking on the lock plate, indicating that it may have also been replaced when the handle was. Known examples of these bayonets with molded rubber grips often lack the Flaming Bomb marking on the lock plate as they were usually replaced.

The M8A1 scabbard is marked TWB for the Philadelphia Home for Working Blind. The "TWB" marking was used 1969-1970 to represent the Working Home's corporate name, The Working Blind, Inc. There is a shoelace thong still attached.

Ready to display with your WWII issue M1 Carbine!

Dimensions:
Blade length: 6 3/4”
Blade Style: Spear Point Bayonet
Overall length: 11 5/8”
Crossguard: 2 5/8”
Scabbard length: 7 1/4"