The M1917 bayonet was a

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designed to be used with the US M1917 Enfield .30

caliber In guns, particularly firearms, but not #As a measurement of length, artillery, where a different definition may apply, caliber (or calibre; sometimes abbreviated as "cal") is the specified nominal internal diameter of the gun barrel Gauge ( ...

rifle, as well as seven different models of U.S. trench shotguns. The blade was long with an overall length of . It does not fit the M1903 .30 caliber (Springfield) or the M1 .30 caliber (Garand) US service rifles as they have different bayonet ring (barrel) and attachment stud dimensions.

History

The M1917 bayonet was used first during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

by American soldiers on the Western Front. A sword bayonet design, the M1917 bayonet design was based on the British Pattern 1913 bayonet, itself derived from the Pattern 1907 bayonet, which incorporated a long blade. While designed primarily for the M1917 rifle, the bayonet was fitted for use on all the "trench" shotguns at the time. The M1917 bayonet, being a direct copy of the British P14 bayonet, retained the transverse cuts in the grip panels. These panels served to differentiate the P1914 bayonet from the P1907 bayonet in British service as the only difference between the two was the height of the muzzle ring. In US service these transverse cuts served no official purpose. US surcharged P1914 bayonets exist and will exhibit the British proofs being cancelled out and US marks applied. The M1917 was used frequently during the several different

Banana Wars The Banana Wars were a series of conflicts that consisted of military occupation, police action, and Interventionism (politics), intervention by the United States in Central America and the Caribbean between the end of the Spanish–American W ...

. The U.S. continued to use the World War I-made M1917 bayonets during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

because of large stockpiles left over. The new trench guns being procured and issued were still designed to use the old M1917 bayonet. The bayonet was again called on during the

Korean War The Korean War (25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953) was an armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula fought between North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea; DPRK) and South Korea (Republic of Korea; ROK) and their allies. North Korea was s ...

for issue with the various trench guns still in service. In 1966 procurement orders were let for brand new production M1917 bayonets. The contracts were issued to General Cutlery of Fremont, Ohio, and Canadian Arsenals Ltd., the old Long Branch Arsenal of Quebec, Canada. Stockpiles had finally run out, and new Winchester 1200 trench shotguns were being issued. These were used in limited quantities during the

Vietnam War The Vietnam War (1 November 1955 – 30 April 1975) was an armed conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia fought between North Vietnam (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) and South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam) and their allies. North Vietnam w ...

. It was not until towards the end of the Vietnam War that new military shotguns were designed to use the newer knife bayonets. Such as the Stevens Model 77E with the M5 Bayonet, or the

United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines or simply the Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is responsible for conducting expeditionar ...

"Model 870 Mark 1" shotgun with the M7 bayonet. M1917 bayonets were still in used by the US Army as late as the early 2000s for use with the M1200 shotgun.

Usage

* M1917 rifle * P14 rifle *

Winchester Model 1897 The Winchester Model 1897, also known as the Model 97, M97, Riot Gun, or Trench Gun, is a pump-action shotgun with an external hammer and tube magazine manufactured by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. The Model 1897 was an evolution of th ...

trench gun *

Winchester Model 1912 The Winchester Model 1912, also commonly known as the Winchester 1912, Model 12, or M12, is an internal-hammer pump-action shotgun with an external tube magazine. Popularly named the ''Perfect Repeater'' at its introduction, it largely set the s ...

trench gun * Stevens Model 520-30 trench gun * Stevens Model 620 trench gun *

Remington Model 10 The Remington Model 10 is a pump-action shotgun designed in 1908 by John Pedersen for Remington Arms. It has an internal striker within the bolt and a tube magazine which loaded and ejected from a port in the bottom of the receiver.Bruce N. Can ...

trench gun * Ithaca Model 37 trench gun * Winchester Model 1200 trench gun

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:M1917 Bayonet Bayonets of the United States World War I infantry weapons of the United States World War II infantry weapons of the United States Bayonets

History

Usage

See also

References

External links