LAN-CAY USMC Prototype?

[Quarterbore]

redshanks
Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2005 10:11 am Post subject: LAN-CAY USMC Prototype?

I just bought what is purported to be a prototype version of the M9 on eBay. The seller had the following description and photo in his listing:

"PROTOTYPE M-9 FIGHTING KNIFE AND SHEATH. BLADE AND SHEATH "LAN - CAY" marked. USMC GLOBE, ANCHOR AND EAGLE ON REVERSE SIDE OF BLADE. GRIP IS BULGED PROTOTYPE. SHEATH HAS MOLLY-GEAR HOOKUP AND LANYARD. PICTURE SHOWS BACK AND FRONT. ONE SHEATH ONLY WITH ITEM. NOT ADOPTED BY THE CORPS."

http://i5.ebayimg.com/01/i/03/9a/49/b3_1_b.JPG

Was this knife submitted to the USMC as a prototype, or is it just a commercial version meant for the civilian market like the many different KaBars? I see that unnaturalone currently has a M9 listed on eBay that he is describing as a USMC MOLLE II M-9 Bayonet in black. He does not mention any inscription on the right side of the blade. Is this the same knife I bought?

[Quarterbore]

carlo

It seems to me a standard commercial version, but I could be wrong.
At the Lan-Cay web site http://www.lancay.com/news.php (http://www.lancay.com/news.php) there are, on the main page, some unfinished blades with (what appear to be) your m9's markings.
They say, also, that "These are specialty blades that Lan-Cay makes in a very limited numbers plus are hard to find". So even if they are not military, should be quite rare (according to them!).

redshanks

Thanks carlo, I am such an idiot!

I had no idea that Lan-Cay had a website. It would appear that what I bought on eBay is not a prototype of any kind, it's just one of many aftermarket knives that they make for sale to the general public. Nothing special, just a knife that sells for $89.95 through their dealers.

Slufstuff

This M9 is in the same CONFIGURATION as the Lan-Cay USMC prototypes, but the prototypes did not have the USMC Eagle Globe Anchor emblem on the reverse. The real prototypes also did not carry the "M9" marking on the front of the blade. They were marked "USMC Lan-Cay" on the front, no marks on the rear. This bayonet above is a commercial model, it is definitely not one of the USMC competition prototypes. The webbing and handle are the same style as the real prototypes, however the USMC competition pieces were only submitted in tan and black, not green. HTH