Carlo, I have one of these commemorative bayonets, it is identical to yours, but mine has no display box, nor is it “USMC numbered” like yours.

Bill: thanks for the picture.
So the DS was commissioned by the AHF, not Franklin Mint!
I'm assuming the Franklin Mint "Desert Storm" I read about in a H. Brett note, was just a project, which ended in the Marto M9 bayonet, marked on the front ricasso with only "M9" and with a custom web assembly. No Desert Storm "markings" at all!!!!

I remember I saw in the Brett book a picture of a DS M9, similar to the one show in the magazine ad, but with the inscription "Operation Desert Shield".

Chris and Pwcosol,
what if the "USMC 038" inscription in my bayonet was just a custom logo?
I'm thinking about a USMC association who could have bought a small quantity of these commemoratives for the association members and asked to have the blade numbered.
This was an available option (priced at $ 19), according to the ad shown above.

There is a Franklin Mint Desert Storm Commemorative. The bayonet itself does not have any DS markings. It was a plaque, similar to the Phrobios Chevron plaque. It has the flags of the coalition nations on it as well as some brass placards (I don't remember what is on them). This plaque had the Marto bayonet with only the "M9" marking on it. The overruns from this project are the bayonets with the modified scabbard.

The AHF commemorative was originally intended to be a Desert Shield commemorative, but Desert Shield quickly turned into Desert Storm and they changed the bayonet.

I think the USMC 038 is a serial number. The DS pieces I have are numbered in the same location. I think the optional engraving option was for a name or unit designation to be engraved on the blade.

I first thought the same looking at the AHF Desert Storm here
http://www.quarterbore.net/forums/showthread.php?t=751
From the above pictures (top right) it is still possibile to see (part of) the production numbers inscription.
See also the last picture here
http://cgi.liveauctions.ebay.com/28D...spagenameZWDVW
But then I can not explain why Chris' commemorative has no serial number at all!!! :confused: :confused: :confused:

The mystery of the missing-globe-from-the-etchings is solved!!!
 

I just received an interesting email regarding the missing globe from the blade etchings.
Here is part of it:

"Carlo -
I was founder, owner and president of The American Historical Foundation when we issued the Armed Forces Bayonets of Honor.
The round symbols etched on the blade are the early (1800's) design of the USMC symbol. This is, since then and until present, the symbol used on the buttons of the USMC dress uniform."

Mystery solved!!!!!!
P.S. For those interested. I was informed that the American Historical Foundation was sold in September 2005 and the firearms division remained under the American Historical name. The knife division is now operating as EK Knife Company.
Take a look at their nice bayonets
www.EkKnife.com