Issued 1987 commercial M9

[lcsert416]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/lcsert416/craigslist023.jpg
I am not a collector, but I thought I would share this info. I happened accross the site becasue I was reading about retro M16s and the like on another site and some how I ended up here. Anyway, I have an M9 that has the commercial 1987 markings on it, but I know for a fact that it was issued to me from the arms room when I was deployed to Iraq with the 82nd during Desert Shield. I ended up bringing it home as I was issued a second M9 in country and when I turned in my gear the supply Sgt would only take one back since I only had one on my property sheet. I kept the one that came from the arms room since I had carried it and turned the "new" one in (he also wouldn't take back my flak vest that I was issued in country.) Just thought it was interesting and I would pass it along. Nice site BTW. I am sure I will be spending more time around here.

[Carlo]

Hello and welcome to the forum!
This is not the first time I heard that US military were issued with a commercial M9 as I remember it was reported on this forum some time ago.
As most of the military issued M9s had some kind of markings (numbers/letters) applied from the armourers, it would be interesting to know how these commercial M9s entered "the system".

[lcsert416]

If I recall correctly none of our bayonets had "rack numbers" on the bayonet or scabard, but they were accountable, and we had to sign for them each time we drew them from the armory. During Operation "Just Cause" our armorer did not want to issue them out as he thought it was a drill and was afraid we would lose them. Our 1st Sgt had to straighten him out. I ended up cutting a hole in a fence with the wire cutter. I got to Ft. Bragg in '88 and we already had the M9 in our inventory. Most guys did not really care for them. The most popular knife at the time was the Cold Steel SRK, we all bought and carried one of those.

[pwcosol]

I have heard numerous stories of how commercial M9s may have ended up in military inventory. It has lead some to believe this may have occurred by the manufacturer substituting commercials for military to meet production/delivery deadlines, but was never was the case. I recall Homer Brett mentioning M9 bayonets "disappearing" from troopers stating they were "lost in the field", etc. This happened primarily with the first lots of M9 bayonets delivered to the Army, which at that time were designated for issue only to combat units like the Airborne, etc.
Homer stated it became such a common occurrence soldiers were threatened with loss of rank should their M9 end up missing. This resulted in some servicemen purchasing a Buck commercial @ the base PX to substitute for a lost bayonet (or a military one they wanted to swap out). The military-issue M9 was a desired collector's item at the time, since it was new to inventory, and not available to civilians.
Then when the first Iraq war began, the M9 had yet to see widespread issue throughout the Army. This resulted in soldiers headed for the field, whom had not been issued a M9, purchasing a Buck commercial surrogate to accompany them into battle. No doubt many found their way into inventory via this route.

[O3SKILL]

If I recall correctly none of our bayonets had "rack numbers" on the bayonet or scabard, but they were accountable, and we had to sign for them each time we drew them from the armory. During Operation "Just Cause" our armorer did not want to issue them out as he thought it was a drill and was afraid we would lose them. Our 1st Sgt had to straighten him out. I ended up cutting a hole in a fence with the wire cutter. I got to Ft. Bragg in '88 and we already had the M9 in our inventory. Most guys did not really care for them. The most popular knife at the time was the Cold Steel SRK, we all bought and carried one of those.

Your famous brother. Reading the history of the M9, it first cut it's teeth in Operation Just Cause and is formally documented as being used to cut through some fencing during the conflict.

Welcome to the forums my friend.

Semper-Fi...O3 out!!

[Carlo]

Your famous brother. Reading the history of the M9, it first cut it's teeth in Operation Just Cause and is formally documented as being used to cut through some fencing during the conflict.

Welcome to the forums my friend.

Semper-Fi...O3 out!!
Yes absolutely!
This is the only picture I could find showing the M9 in use during operation Just Cause
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/9646/operationjustcauserange.jpg

[lcsert416]

I doubt I am famous, a ton of guys got dropped on the wrong side of the fence surrounding the airport and there were a lot of holes cut through it to get to our rally points.

That photo would be of the 7th ID, you can tell by the "rags" tied to their helmets.

It is very possible that some one replaced the GI one with a commerical one and turned it in, only to be re issued later. Likely because some one really lost one and didn't want to do a report of survey. This happened a lot with all sorts of gear.