Can You Identify This Bayonet?

[Skyman]

Ok thanks.What kinds of wire? Ordinary electrical wire?

[Grumpy]

I think that soldiers in the field are more likely to need to cut fencewire - including barbed wire - than wire-up a radio for entertainment purposes .......................

[Skyman]

Are these bayonets sturdy and sharp enough to cut through fences? It would be a slow and tedious task at the least.Don't they use bangalores or proper wire cutters for fences?

[Sakobav]

Vikram be careful Russkies might take you for CIA or MI 6 agent when they invade...

SO where is your pistol or gun ??

[Grumpy]

If they have `proper` wire cutters I have no doubt that they use them but if they don`t, the ability to use the bayonet is useful - and you can get a fair amount of leverage on them as well so I doubt that it would be that slow or tedious.

[Lanceman]

The Buck M9 was made in many versions by two companies buck and Phrobis, there is a detailed write up on Wikipedia link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M9_bayonet

The serrations or saw teeth on the spine are not the M9 pattern, I have one. But there is a model number so it should be a service bayonet. Such large teeth.... Sawing logs?

The M9 also has a long dent on the side, but it engages with a catch in the scabbard and, I think serves to make it lighter. The M9 scabbard is very heavy, so I made a light scabbard when I used to carry it in ops. My bayonet is now being used lethally in the corporate world...... Stab others in the back and open letters!!

[Grumpy]

Also made by LanCay, General Cutlery ( sub-contracting to LanCay ) and Ontario.
I thought the M9 was actually designed by Buck so was interested to see that it was actually designed by an R&D company and first manufactured under the Phrobis III name.

[Lanceman]

True about the manufactures, I tried to track the serial number of mine, but found it too confusing. See pic on Lanceman's blades.
Don't try cutting wire with these, unless you are looking at thin packing ms wire.

[Grumpy]

It depends on the individual blade I think - some of the better ones could manage heavy wire reasonably effectively but I think it`s mostly a gimmick ........ just like the saw is mostly a gimmick.

[Skyman]

Won't the army have noticed it was a gimmick?

[Vikram]

Are these bayonets sturdy and sharp enough to cut through fences? It would be a slow and tedious task at the least.Don't they use bangalores or proper wire cutters for fences?

[xl_target]

What is the hole towards the front for?

This is how the wire cutter works


image from here

A closeup image here of another cut point.

As Grumpy mentions, the bayonet would not be used as a regular wire cutter. It's just there if you need it. It would probably mess up your blade if you used it more than a few times.

You wouldn't use explosive charges unless you are attempting a frontal assault. The Vietcong used satchel charges on wire when attempting assaults in Vitnam. While Bangalore Torpedoes were popular during WW2, I don't think the US uses them anymore. Today, if US troops want to do a frontal assault on a strongpoint, it's easier for them to call in an airstrike (or artillery) or use armor if they have any nearby. An Arclight strike is supposed to be a terrible thing.

For a stealthier approach, in WW2, they used wire cutters like these.

image from here

More contemporary wire cutters look like these:

image from here

[Lanceman]

The second cut point of the M9 looks about right. In the first case, IMHO, the blade and case would be damaged. But I think this is just as an emergency back up.