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| M1917 bayonet | |
|---|---|
 U.S. military bayonets of the Great War (World War I). Shown is the U.S. Bayonet M1905 affixed to the 1903 Springfield Rifle and the U.S. Bayonet M1917 affixed to the Model 12 Winchester Trenchgun (12 gauge pump shotgun). | |
| Type | Sword bayonet |
| Service history | |
| Used by | United States United Kingdom |
| Wars | World War I Banana Wars World War II Korean War Vietnam War |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Remington Arms Winchester Arms Eddystone Arms General Cutlery Canadian Arsenals Limited. |
| Produced | 1910s–1930s, 1960s |
| No. built | ~2,000,000 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 1.2 lb (540 g) |
| Length | 22 in (56 cm) |
| Blade length | 17 in (43 cm) |
| Scabbard/sheath | M1917 scabbard |
TheM1917bayonet was designed to be used with the USM1917 Enfield .30caliber rifle, as well as seven different models of U.S.trench shotguns. The blade was 17 in (43 cm) long with an overall length of 22 in (56 cm).[1] It will not fit theM1903 .30 caliber (Springfield) or theM1 .30 caliber (Garand) US service rifles as they have different bayonet ring (barrel) andattachment stud dimensions.
The M1917 bayonet was used first duringWorld War I by American soldiers on theWestern Front. Asword bayonet design, the M1917 bayonet design was based on the British Pattern 1913 bayonet, itself derived from thePattern 1907 bayonet, which incorporated a long 17 in (43 cm) blade. While designed primarily for theM1917 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 differentBanana Wars.
The U.S. continued to use the World War I-made M1917 bayonets duringWorld War II 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 theKorean War for issue with the various trench guns still in service.
In a strange twist of fate, 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 theVietnam War.
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 theStevens Model 77E with theM5 Bayonet, or theUnited States Marine Corps"Model 870 Mark 1" shotgun with theM7 bayonet.
M1917 bayonets were still in used by the US Army as late as the early 2000s for use with theM1200 shotgun.
