Tell me about my new bayos.. pics incl.

[m9er]

Came accross a couple of Lan-Cay M9s (as new) and would like to find out more about them. Posted a few pics of one of them below.

What can anyone tell me about them? Is there any way to date them? It seems that the font and spacing of the letters on the blade are slightly different than the newer releases. Appreciate any info.

http://www.megpro.com/ar/bayo/m9/lcfront.jpg

http://www.megpro.com/ar/bayo/m9/lcfrontclup.jpg

http://www.megpro.com/ar/bayo/m9/lcback.jpg

http://www.megpro.com/ar/bayo/m9/lcbackclup.jpg

http://www.megpro.com/ar/bayo/m9/lcfont.jpg

http://www.megpro.com/ar/bayo/m9/lcpommel.jpg

http://www.megpro.com/ar/bayo/m9/lcfastner.jpg

http://www.megpro.com/ar/bayo/m9/lclftsharp.jpg

http://www.megpro.com/ar/bayo/m9/lcrtsharp.jpg

[porterkids]

What you have is an earlier second contract piece. The earliest ones were marked LanCay (vs. Lan-Cay). It has the Product Improved scabbard with the screwdriver to the side, but it has the sharpening stone in the back of the scabbard. This was eliminated not too far into the second contract. Also, the Fastex fastener is dated 1995, which is correct for this bayonet. Overall a nice piece.

One thing I can't tell from the pictures; is the blade hollow ground or flat ground?

[porterkids]

It's difficult to determine from a photograph but very obvious to the eye. The ground edge will either be concave (hollow ground) or flat.

[m9er]

...The earliest ones were marked LanCay (vs. Lan-Cay). ...

Picked up a couple more of these, still packed in cosmo, and one of them was marked "LanCay".

http://www.megpro.com/ar/bayo/m9/LCfrontwrap.jpg

http://www.megpro.com/ar/bayo/m9/LCbackwrap.jpg

http://www.megpro.com/ar/bayo/m9/LanCayfont.jpg