Unstamped Phrobis?

[mocityman]

I purchased this unsharpened, unfinished, and unstamped M9 bayonet recently. The bayonet was taken apart to show the blade. I compared it to all of the variations of Phrobis M9's that I have including: 3 line flat top M, 3 line regular M, 4 line narrow USA, 4 line wide USA, etc. The only one that matched perfect was the 4 line wide USA. The blade was purchase from a guy close to Camillus, NY. Interestingly, it came with an unmarked scabbard that is the exact same one as used on the USMC-M9 Buck + (without Buck or Phrobis markings).

The blade I am talking about is shown in the photos on the right, or the top. The other blade is shown for comparison (4 line wide USA).

Has anyone every seen an unstamped blade like this before?

[Mister Moon]

NumberoneGi had these blades unmarked BUCK/PHROBIS, a few months ago on EBAY.
I believe that Chris J. bought one. NumberoneGi wanted to propose me one but I refused.

[Chris Johnson]

I believe that Chris J. bought one. NumberoneGi wanted to propose me one but I refused.

No... I'm positive CJ did not buy one...:smile:

[porterkids]

There has been some rumor over the past year or so that Camillus was making M9 bayonet blades. I have addressed this issue with Joe Houser at Buck Knives and also with the Camillus company historian. Both men state without any doubt that Camillus was not ever in any way associated with the M9 bayonet project. I did find out that a company in New York state, Schilling Forge in Mattydale, was fabricating blades for Buck. Yours could be an unfinished blade from that supplier. Or it could be an unfinished first contract LanCay blade. I have seen several of these over the years.

[mocityman]

Thanks for the info. About 6 months ago on Ebay I purchased a few Phrobis unsharpened and stamped 4 Line blades. The seller stated that he aquired these indirectly from the Camillus auction. He also had several lots of other buck blades from the same source. Number1GI also has sold several of these blades recently on Ebay. I read an old post here where a guy said he picked up an XM9 blade and handguard at the Camillus auction. I guess these are just rumors, as the Buck historian would know. However, I wonder why different people are making that claim.

I have a 1992 "fullered" LanCay, so I guess I will have to break that down and compare it. Mr Porter, do you have any hints for me in determining whether it is a LanCay or Phrobis?

[Mister Moon]

From Joe :

I believe Mr. Porter has it right. The blades were made by Schilling forge http://www.schillingforge.com/ . They only made the raw forging though and that blade has a lot of machine work done to it. It could be a sample sent back to Schilling, showing the almost finished product.
Hope this helps.

Joe Houser
Director of Customer Relations
Buck Collectors Club Liaison
Company Historian

[SignalSoldier]

The blades offered by NumberOneGi were by Phrobis. The ricasso was marked with uncommon Gen 4 I/A small font USA. This 4th gen ricasso is not so common but I have purchased several over the years from U.S. Army. They are exact in every detail to the ones sold unistalled except they had been sharpened. #1 Gi did sell some sterile blades but they came direct from LanCay factory after closure.

My belief, based on observation of many hundreds of Phrobis M9's, is that the 4th gen I/A small USA font did not come from Buck but from Schilling Forge. The ones sold uninstalled were from a small stash of blades taken from factory before sharpening and installation.


Semper Fi,
Signalsoldier