M7 bayonet and M8A1 scabard

[austromunga]

Hi all

picked this one up at a local militaria fair!!
Its an M7, M16 fitment Vietnam era Bayonet with a M8A1 scabbard in unissued condition , blade Was still smothered in packing grease!!
blade is by Milpar, scabbard PWH
thoughts please

[Alex W]

I've never seen one of these colt marked milpars in real life but i've heard they are quiet rare. Here is a site with some comparison pics Humes M7_03

It might be the photos or grease still on the blade but the finish looks a little darker than usual.

[austromunga]

Well I'll be blowed Alex!!! your right!! I was on the look out for an M16 M7 Vietnam era piece, to go with my Vietnam collection and I looked at several at the fair that day.. some Korean made examples even a Solingen made German one!!??? but i just liked the look of this one... and the nice Colts stamp!!! Also the unissued condition had a little to do with it!! and when I asked the price... I expected it to be way over my budget for the day!! but when seller told me it was about the same price as all the others I had looked at and turned down!!!
that was it SOLD!!!!

I only cleaned off the grease from the Colts trade mark!!! so the rest is still covered in a thick layer, but the metal itself is very unused/un-scratched and really dark black!!

[austromunga]

Hi all

After a trip out to the local militaria fair my collection of M7 bayonets has grown!!!
I managed to pick up another two M7's and scabbards... both still with the early Colt's trades on the blades ( does anyone see a pattern developing!!)!!!
top one is a West German made M7,with Colt's trades and one piece handle!!!
middle one is the first one I bought ..the Milpar M7 with Colt's trades, with two piece grips
and the bottom one is an early non maker marked ....unmarked + Colts trades= early Imperial made. same goes for the scabbard un maker marked = Imperial, another tell tale is the crinkle finish to the plastic of the scabbard....this also has two piece grips.