M1 Garand alternate bayonet

[BuffaloHunter11]

Collector appropriate M1 Garand bayonets are getting very expensive, driving up the cost for anyone who just wants a functional one.

My brother discovered the following, so I cannot take the credit.

Stainless steel Swiss k-31 bayonets (possibly aka Swiss 1918 bayonets) can be easily modified to fit the M1 Garand. 20-30 minutes of careful file work on the hole that fits over the barrel/gas plug will yield a 12" bayonet that fits better than US issue. The secret to a tight fit is to leave the reverse curve on the bayonet barrel ring that fits the relief on the gas cylinder lock (funny looking "nut" that tightens the gas cylinder), that lets the gas plug unscrew.

If you want a "US equivalent fit" (sloppy), just use a rat-tail file to open a bigger circle that fits over the gas cylinder lock.

You can get "fine" K-31 Swiss bayonets with metal scabbards for $50-$80 online.

This has worked extremely well on the 3 Garands done so far. YMMV

 

[Acera]

You can get the reproduction M1 Garand bayonets for about $50 also, and not have to bubba it.




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[BuffaloHunter11]

You can get the reproduction M1 Garand bayonets for about $50 also, and not have to bubba it.
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This ain't no "Bubba." The Swiss have a long history of great metallurgy. The result of this hand-tooling of a military grade product yields a bayonet head and shoulders above cheap Chinese repros that might break like glass with the first use. As I said " Your mileage may vary."

I have a "real" 10" M1 US bayonet, and I'd trust the Swiss much more than it. I'm from Texas, so I KNOW bubba.

 

[AlexanderA]

The fact that a Swiss bayonet can be adapted easily to fit a Garand is no accident.

A little history is in order. The Krag bayonet will fit the 1903 Springfield and the Garand. The attachment points are the same. In fact, West Point cadets used Krag bayonets on their M1's, up to the advent of the M14 in the late 1950's.

In turn, the Krag bayonet was a direct copy of the Swiss bayonet used with the Schmidt-Rubin rifle. In 1894, U.S. Ordnance deemed the Swiss bayonet to be the best in the world, and worth copying.

 

[BuffaloHunter11]

That makes a lot of sense, thanks.

 

[johnmcl]

May I point out that the CMP E-Store has US M1 bayonets for $55?

 

[BuffaloHunter11]

Yes, they do. My brother bought two from them, and one was worth keeping. The other was bent and the ring was distorted so that it would not go over the barrel of the M1. The edge of the first bayonet was in pretty bad shape and had been ground on a grinder, so the temper is suspect. I bought one from CMP and the edge was good but the ear at the butt of the grip had been crudely ground off using a grinder. Others have had better luck with the CMP bayonets. They do not come with scabbards.

A non-standard (repaired) scabbard is available on Ebay for about $30.

So for about $80 you can take a chance on the proper 10" bayonet and scabbard or get a good 12" bayonet that takes a little work to fit. All of the K31 bayonets I've seen have been in good shape. As I said above, YMMV.