Current M9 Production

[JesseB]

Can anyone tell me who is making the current M9's that are issued to our military forces?

[pwcosol]

With the last contract let by the U.S. Army, the requirement was for 25,000 additional M9 bayonets. After bids were rendered, Lan-Cay & Ontario Knife where the two lowest (only?) bidders. It was decided not to award the entire contract to either company, but split it evenly @ 12,500 units each. The idea was to stimulate future competition. By now, this contract has been completed by both firms, so no one is currently delivering M9s to the Army. Phrobis, the company that designed & had the first M9 bayonets produced for the Army, lost out to LanCay on a supplemental contract (I think in 1991 or 1992). After 22 years with the MPBS M9, the Army has expressed an interest in seeking a new bayonet system. However, with the current administration & economic situation, plus more than adequate stocks of bayonets in inventory, it is unlikely this will happen any time soon.

[Carlo]

Hello!
I ask everybody to correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the M9 bayonet, despite being still used, is no more issued to (i.e. produced for) the military.
I think the very last contract for the M9 was awarded to the Ontario Knife company back in 2003.
But again, I'm not 100% sure.
I'm not considering the M9 bayonets made for the commercial sales.
Edit: I was posting as the same time as pwcosol.
Here is the reference I found about a very small (409 units :eek:) contract in 2003 I was referring to.
http://www.usmilitaryknives.com/knife_knotes_9.htm
the article is titled "new purchases".

[Carlo]

Hello,
I was looking around on ebay and I found this auction about an Ontario M9
http://cgi.ebay.com/GENUINE-ISSUE-G-I-MILITARY-M9-BAYONET-KNIFE-W-SHEATH-/320694981370?pt=Collectible_Knives&hash=item4aaae912fa
Was an additional contract awarded on 2005?
http://img688.imageshack.us/img688/690/89523138.jpg (http://img688.imageshack.us/i/89523138.jpg/)
Am I missing something?

[Carlo]

Ok, I think I found the solution myself.
It appears that Ontario Knife was awarded two additional contracts for the Army.
The first
W52H09-05-C-0265 (the one from the label pictured above)
Contract signed on 15 Sept. 2005
"urgent sole source buy for bayonets and scabbards, for the M9 Bayonet System".
Units: 20.000
price: $ 797,000.00

The second
W52H09-06-D-0068
Contract signed on 9 May 2006
"long term, firm fixed price, 3 year (30 April 2007, 30 April 2008 and 30 April 2009) indefinite delivey indefinite quantity"
units: 3.000 each year (bayonets) + parts (scabbards ect.)

I'm attaching both contracts for those of you interested.

[Databyter]

Ok, I think I found the solution myself.
It appears that Ontario Knife was awarded two additional contracts for the Army.
The first
W52H09-05-C-0265 (the one from the label pictured above)
Contract signed on 15 Sept. 2005
"urgent sole source buy for bayonets and scabbards, for the M9 Bayonet System".
Units: 20.000
price: $ 797,000.00

The second
W52H09-06-D-0068
Contract signed on 9 May 2006
"long term, firm fixed price, 3 year (30 April 2007, 30 April 2008 and 30 April 2009) indefinite delivey indefinite quantity"
units: 3.000 each year (bayonets) + parts (scabbards ect.)

I'm attaching both contracts for those of you interested.

http://contracting.tacom.army.mil/confls/awd/W56HZV12P0013/0000.pdf

Oct, 2011 Army submitted a quote request a while back and two vendors were interested, Ontario being one of them.

The bid was for spare parts basically including 600 pcs. of latch assy's.

I found this as I was looking for a latch assy. supplier and thought I might as well post my find here for posterity.