1905 Bayonet Questions =)

[papabear]

Hello folks...
I got a new Bayonet. I am starting to understand some about it and wanted to get some opinions.. The knife seems to have been made by Oneida cutlery in 1942 and then cut down by Union Fork and Hoe. The bayonet has a serial number, or number of some sorts on the tang. I couldn't find much anywhere to figure out the significance of the meaning of the numbers.. let me know what you think.. Most appreciated!

[New_Windsor_NY]

Hello.....

You might want to check here:
viewforum.php?f=44

[98src]

I think the original manufacturer was Utica Cutlery (UC).

[papabear]

thank you!

[GSPTOPDOG]

thank you!

Were they cut down by U.F.H. and reissued for use in Korea? Why would they have been altered in that way?

[papabear]

From the tad of research I have read, it seems like the blade was made in 1942 by UC , then when the regulations changed for a smaller bayonet in 1943 they began to cut them down. I believe at that time they were making new 10" bayonets at the same time as modifying others to meet the new regulations.

[SwedgeHead]

Would an official cut-down preserve the original profile? Could just be too, a damaged edge someone ground down

[zzyzzogeton]

Would an official cut-down preserve the original profile? Could just be too, a damaged edge someone ground down

The cutdowns, designated M1905E1, were cut down starting in 1943 after the Army Ordnance Board decided that 10" blades were what was needed "now", as shown by the M1.

The 1942 M1905s were sent back to the same 5 manufacturers to be cut down, but were not necessarily sent back to the original manufacturer, as seen here, with Utica making it and Union Fork & Hoe cutting it down. Springfield and Rock Island M1905s from armories were sent to the same 5 companies. The ones cut down during the war by one of the manufacturers have the mark of the cutter down company.

The cutdowns were cut to various profiles. Some were cut to the original spear point profile, while others were cut to a clip point or drop point. Cutlers choice, as it were.

If an M1905E1 does not have a secondary stamp, it was -
1. cut down in the field during the war
2. broken and "fixed" - these blades are usually shorter than 10"

Rumors persist that some were shortened during the Korean War, but I have never seen a documented Korean War era shortened M1905E1. These rumors probably come from WW2 M1905E1s that were still in inventory at armories and issued at that time.

[SwedgeHead]

Would an official cut-down preserve the original profile? Could just be too, a damaged edge someone ground down

The cutdowns, designated M1905E1, were cut down starting in 1943 after the Army Ordnance Board decided that 10" blades were what was needed "now", as shown by the M1.

The 1942 M1905s were sent back to the same 5 manufacturers to be cut down, but were not necessarily sent back to the original manufacturer, as seen here, with Utica making it and Union Fork & Hoe cutting it down. Springfield and Rock Island M1905s from armories were sent to the same 5 companies. The ones cut down during the war by one of the manufacturers have the mark of the cutter down company.

The cutdowns were cut to various profiles. Some were cut to the original spear point profile, while others were cut to a clip point or drop point. Cutlers choice, as it were.

If an M1905E1 does not have a secondary stamp, it was -
1. cut down in the field during the war
2. broken and "fixed" - these blades are usually shorter than 10"

Rumors persist that some were shortened during the Korean War, but I have never seen a documented Korean War era shortened M1905E1. These rumors probably come from WW2 M1905E1s that were still in inventory at armories and issued at that time.

Well DANG, there you go - nicely done !

[GSPTOPDOG]

Would an official cut-down preserve the original profile? Could just be too, a damaged edge someone ground down

Rumors persist that some were shortened during the Korean War, but I have never seen a documented Korean War era shortened M1905E1. These rumors probably come from WW2 M1905E1s that were still in inventory at armories and issued at that time.

Excellent response Thanks!

[papabear]

thanks for all that info.. I think half the fun of having all these knives is finding out the details from others on what you have. Again thanks for the responses!