Fine 16" US Model 1905 Type IV (M1942) Bayonet by American Fork & Hoe
- Product Code: EWB-2575-SOLD
- Availability: In Stock
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$0.00
This is a FINE condition example of a US Model 1905 (Type IV) Bayonet by American Fork & Hoe. The M1905 Type IV bayonet is better known to collectors as the “M1905/42”, or simply as the M1942 bayonet. The original variation of the M1905 bayonet was adopted in 1905 for use with the Model 1903 Springfield rifle, replacing the ramrod bayonet that was originally incorporated into the M1903 rifle design. During its production and service life, the bayonet also became the standard bayonet for use with the M-1 Garand battle rifle. Three primary variants of the bayonet were produced between 1906 and 1922, when the initial production of the bayonet ceased, not to begin again until 1942. All of the bayonets in the initial production run were manufactured at either the Springfield Armory or at the Rock Island Arsenal. All of the first production M1905 bayonets were produced with 16” spear point blades, and all of the bayonets produced between 1906 and 1922 had rough-hewn walnut grip panels. The earliest version of M1905 bayonet, the “Type I”, was produced with a blued hilt and crossguard, and a bright blade, with only about 3/16” of an inch of blue at the ricasso. These bayonets were produced from 1906 to 1917 and records indicate that about 950,000 of the Type I bayonets were produced. The second production variation (Type II) was manufactured from 1917-1918, with some 150,000 units being produced at the two national arsenal manufactories. These bayonets were fully blued with no part of the blade left bright. The third variant of the M1905 bayonet (Type III) went into production in 1918 and continued to be produced through 1922. These bayonets were identical to the first two types but were fully Parkerized instead of blued. Some 525,000 of the Type III bayonets were produced during that four-year period. In the years between the end of World War I and the beginning of World War II, thousands of the M1905 bayonets were refurbished at the national armories and most of these were Parkerized as part of that process, making the original Type I bright blade and Type II blued blade bayonets quite scarce. With the coming of World War II, even more of these older bayonets were modified to the current standard of Parkerizing and starting in 1943 many were shortened to the M1905E1 standard with a 10” blade, often called simply the M-1 “cut down” bayonets.
The Type IV M1905 bayonet went into production in 1942 and is often referred to as the M1942 bayonet by collectors. These bayonets retained the original 16” blade length of the original production M1905 patterns and the Parkerized finish of the Type III bayonets. However, this last iteration of the M1905 had plastic grip panels and a new composite scabbard, designated the M-3 scabbard, replacing the earlier wood and leather scabbard patterns that were used with the first three variants of the M1905 bayonet. None of the M-1905 Type IV (1942) bayonets were produced by the National Armories; instead all of the production was handled by six contractors. These companies were American Fork & Hoe (AFH), Oneida Limited (OL), Pal Blade & Tool (PAL), Union Fork & Hoe (UFH), Utica Cutlery (UC) and Wilde Drop Forge & Tool (WT). Five of the six manufactures produced the M1905 Type IV (M1942) from April of 1942 through May of 1943, with a total production of about 1.5 million units. Wilde Drop Forge & Tool, however, stopped producing the bayonet in February of 1943 and never started production again. Total production numbers for each of the manufacturers varies based upon the source referenced. The most accurate and in depth production analysis appears to have been completed by fellow SABC (Society of American Bayonet Collectors) member Frank Trzaska. Frank gives the following production figures for the M-1905 Type IV bayonet in his “Bayonet Points #22” as follows:
Union Fork & Hoe - 385,000 (26%)
American Fork & Hoe - 350,000 (23%)
Pal Blade & Tool - 250,000 (17%)
Oneida, LTD - 235,000 (16%)
Utica Cutlery - 225,000 (15%)
Wilde Drop Forge & Tool - 60,000 (4%)
The two largest producers (Union Fork & Hoe and American Fork & Hoe) produced about half of the total production of 16” long M-1905/42 bayonets during World War II, with the four remaining companies producing the other half. The smaller makers were simply not set up to produce the bayonets on the same scale as the two huge toolmakers. Wilde Drop Forge & Tool, in particular, had trouble meeting production expectations, as they were a small hand tool manufacturer and had simply never produced items on such a mass scale. By the middle of 1943 it became apparent that the 16” blade of the M1905 pattern bayonets was too long, cumbersome and unwieldy for effective use in the field. As a result, a new bayonet, (designated the M-1) was adopted. The M-1 bayonet was the same pattern as the Type IV M1905 with the only real change being the shortening of the blade specification from 16” to 10”. Between 1943 and 1953 nearly 3 million of the new 10” blade M-1 bayonets were produced by five of the six original M1905 Type IV contractors; Wilde Drop Forge & Tool “dropped” out. Additionally, more than 1 million M1905 bayonets were shortened to 10”, the M-1 standard. The end result is that today, unaltered US M1905 bayonets with 16” blades, whether of the first three types or from the 1942 era fourth production type are very scarce.
This is one of those hard to find US M1905 Type IV (aka M-1942) bayonets in its original 16” blade length. The bayonet was produced by American Fork & Hoe, one of the two largest contractors to produce these bayonets, with some 350,000 manufactured between 1942 and 1943. The American Fork & Hoe Company had been formed in 1902 as a conglomeration of a number of tool manufacturers across the United States. Some sources note as many as 17 companies, 12 factories and some 16 brand name product lines were incorporated under the single banner of American Fork & Hoe at that time. In company literature they noted that the origins of the company could be traced back to northeastern tool making companies from the first quarter of the 19th century. The company had factories all over the US, with different places concentrating on different tool making, ranging from axes and shovels to wide variety of farm implements, industrial and specialty trade tools.
The bayonet is in FINE condition. It is accompanied by an equally FINE condition US M-3 pattern composite scabbard, with the usual US Ordnance Department “Flaming Bomb” marking on the throat. This is a standard Beckwith Manufacturing scabbard and is the correct pattern scabbard for this bayonet. The bayonet is well marked, with the reverse ricasso being crisply marked in three lines: AFH / U {Flaming Ordnance Bomb} S / 1942. The bayonet retains about 85%+ of its original Parkerized finish on the blade, with the minimal surface wear and loss that is most apparent along the high edges and contact points and at the very tip of the blade. The bayonet blade remains full length and is unaltered at 16”. The blade is pit free with only some very lightly scattered pinpricks of freckled oxidation present, mostly around the tip. The blade appears to retain its original factory edge without addition “in the field” sharpening. The crossguard retains some of its original Parkerized finish, mixed with a smoky gray patina, with some small, scattered patches of brown surface oxidation and surface crust present. The pommel cap retains some traces of its dark gray-black Parkerized finish as well. The bayonet retains its original black plastic grips. The grips are in VERY FINE condition and show only the most minor handling marks, minor surface scuffs and small dings. The bayonet latching mechanism is mechanically excellent and functions exactly as it should. The bayonet is accompanied by a FINE condition, original US M-3 Scabbard, produced by Beckwith Manufacturing The M-3 was a new composite scabbard, manufactured of resin impregnated cotton duck cloth painted OD green. The metal mountings, such as the throat and web belt attachment hook, were Parkerized. The Victory Plastics division of the Beckwith Manufacturing Company manufactured the majority of the M-3 scabbards. During World War II over 3 million M-3 scabbards were manufactured. Only three companies produced the scabbards, Columbia Rope (which only made 1,000), Victory Plastics (Beckwith) and Detroit Gasket. This scabbard retains about 85%+ of is O.D. Green paint, which appears to be original. The throat, mounts, web belt hook and locking mechanism are all in perfect working order and are in wonderful condition, with a smooth dull brownish patina and retaining only some minor traces of the Parkerized finish, with some light surface oxidation and discoloration present.
Overall this is a FINE condition example of a US M-1905/42 bayonets, complete with a fine scabbard. Somehow, the bayonet managed to escape being shortened to M-1 10” specifications, which suggests the bayonet may have been in a combat theater where it was safe from alteration. These 16” bayonets are getting very hard to find these days, especially with any level of condition, and it is even harder to find a 1942-dated bayonet that does not show significant service wear. This one is 100% complete, correct, original and unaltered. It will be a very nice addition to any serious WWII bayonet collection and great addition to the display of a high condition, early WWII production M-1 Garand.
SOLD
Tags: Fine, 16", US, Model, 1905, Type, IV, M1942, Bayonet, by, American, Fork, &, Hoe