All About Pocket Knives

I just came into possession of this Imperial USM6 bayonet. I know nothing about bayonets, and I am hoping one of you could be so kind as to drop some knowledge on my about this particular bayonet. I found it in a box of things that belonged to a departed loved one, who had no prior military service. I'm not sure how he came to have it and know nothing of it's history. I haven't cleaned it up yet, but it is pretty solid, although it has no sheath (scabbard?)
Obviuosly it was made by Imperial of Providence Rhode Island....any way to narrow down an approximate date of manufacture? Was it made for a particular branch or issued during a particular time-frame?
And what is the stamping on the guard that is a small square with what looks like three stars next to a....bird? or something?
Could a sheath be found for it...?
Thanks for any info,
mike

I just came into possession of this Imperial USM6 bayonet

You sir are now the proud owner of the bayonet made for the finest combat rifle ever made: the mighty M-14. Okay, I admit I'm a bit biased as it was the first rifle I learned to shoot. The M-16s were already going into NAM while I was still in basic.

I am guessing the blade was introduced simultaneously with the rifle so the era was 1957 to, probably, about 1967. However there is an important qualification. The M-14 has always been and continues to be used by various military groups when they need the extra range and power. From Green Berets to Seals to shipboard (Navy or Coast Guard). So it is at least possible (if unliikely) your bayonet may have been carried far past the Vietnam era.

What Garry said, especially about the M-14 being the finest combat rifle ever made (except maybe for the FN and the AK-47. Just sayin' both were/are fine combat weapons for different reasons) I love the M-14 and would very much like to have one. A real one with selector switch capabilities. Unfortunately they sheared the receivers in half on millions of them.

Mike -- Pretty sure you carried that Matty Mattel .22 pop gun.

The M6 I have is new with box and paperwork. The plastic bag it came in has a 11/68 date on it so at least that late.

Couple of sheaths on eBay now in the low $20 BIN with free shipping. USM8A1

JD, very interesting about the 1968 date. I am surprised they were still producing them since by then DOD had countless thousands of surplus. Unless I am mistaken about how quickly the M-16s got distributed. Or maybe there were contractual obligations that had to be fulfilled.

In any event your M6 is impressive. First time I've seen a mint bayonet. Cool.

For what it's worth, Wikipedia claims the M-14 was replaced by the M-16 in Viet Nam in the 1966-1967 time frame and was issued in CONUS until 1970. They also claim the last procurement contracts were filled in 1963 and in 1964 orders were placed for M-16s.

How accurate all that is would be anybody's guess. I can only tell you I was carrying the M-14 when I left Viet Nam in August of 1966 and my cousin who was Army carried the M-14 for his entire tour from Nov. '66 to Nov. '67. Two other cousin's, one Army and the other Marine Corps (brothers BTW), were there '67-'68 but I've never talked to them about what weapon they carried.

We heard rumors the last couple of months I was there in '66, that some troops (can't remember if it was Army or M.C.) were getting the M-16. There was much scuttlebutt about what a terrible weapon it was. Dale was there in the wind down years. Maybe he will chime in with what he carried.

I was issued an M-14 in Boot Camp at MCRD in February or March of 1970.
I was in the Air Wing. We had bombs & jets, they didn't trust us with rifles.
The only weapon (dripping with sarcasm) I was issued was a Camillus TL-29!

Thanks for posting up some info guys, very cool....and thanks Jerry for the sheath/scabbard info, I'm going to track one down for certain.

I carried the M16 myself, and was never actually isssued a bayonet for it!...Seems they had some issues down there in supply....imagine that. Good thing I was fully instructed on effective us of the vertical buttstroke.


Mike