Australian Army M9 Bayonet
 

I have a question I'm scratching my head to figure out.

Buck made only 20,050 M9 Bayonets for the Australian Army

There are 27,828 (Regular) 17,064 (Active Reserve) 12,496 (Standby Reserve) soldiers, totalling 57388 soliders.

There's only 20050 M9s to go around, what does the Australian Army issue to the 37338 other soldiers?

I know there was a contract for M7 bayonets and if I'm not mistaken Australia also uses the KCB77. Perhaps someone with a first hand knowledge of the Austrailian military can chime in.

Ah interesting, thanks for the info.

Any idea who manufactures the M7s for the Aussie army (I mean, they'd have to be custom made right considering the F88 Austeyr and the M16 rifle are differently sized guns?).

Also any idea where I can buy a KCB 77? Ebay search turned up nothing.

I am thinking that General Cutlery is making them. At one time they were a subcontractor for lancay

Ah ok. Any idea where I could get one?

Aussi M7's turn up on Ebay occasionally as for the KCB that is different they are less common. I have the M7 on my site and there is info on them at www.usmilitaryknives.com

I know that Numberonegi had an Australian M-7 on ebay one month and also some Australian M-7 sheaths, because I bought a sheath from him...I managed to find an Australian M-7 bayonet in a US sheath on ebay which I won the auction...

Are the KCBs still being made and if so, wouldn't it be possible to just order one from the factory?

Eickhorn was bought out several years ago by a company in the UK. They are currently manufacturing a KCB77 type bayonet but I don't remember if that's what they call it or if they changed the designation. In any case, the new bayonets are not exactly the same as the old ones. And forget trying to order from the factory. They do not respond to emails. I must have sent a dozen over the past few years, not looking to purchase direct, I just wanted the name of a US distributor. They never replied.

Bill, are they making the same bayonet the kcb77 for Canada now?

There is an Eickhorn blade used by Canada and Holland but it is the 2000 model not liek the KCB at all, the handle is roundish for a start

Here are some pics of the Eickhorn bayonet used by the Dutch army and Canada.

Holland (Buck M9 and Eickhorn):
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p...e/IMAG0626.jpg

Canada (Nella C7 and Eickhorn):
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p...e/IMAG0629.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p...e/IMAG0631.jpg

Here is a pic of my Austrian made Steyr Aug A2 with an Eickhorn KCB77 M1 bayonet:

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p...ouse/aaa-1.jpg

There are many variants of the Eickhorn KCB77.
Here are some from my collection:

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p...n/IMAG0315.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p...n/IMAG0325.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p...n/IMAG0309.jpg

Struth almighty mate, that's an impressive collection!

Where do you get your KCB 77s from? Do they show up on eBay or is there a dealer perhaps?

I get them from auction sites and other collectors.
The production of the KCB77 is discontinued.

Eickhorn now only offers a limited edition (999pieces) of the KCB77 :

http://www.original-eickhorn.de/inde...23&prod_ID=28&

Hi, WRT the Aussie saga of the bayonet as fol:

1. KCB 77: Out of service, with the last batch destroyed in about the late 90's. They were an interim bayoent and genuine one's will have the Australian unique inspector's mark at the rear of the bayonet where it attaches to the bayonet boss. Aside from that, the KCB77's were an off the shelf purchase. You'll pay well for one here, again for a 'proofed' one.

2. M7's various US makes of VN vintage and post VN, in both M8A1, and M10 black scabs, a unique thing is there are M7's out there with a crow's foot ADF property mark on the cross piece, with OD M10 scabs, again with the crow's foot mark. An obvious Australian US contract. These OD scabs are often cam painted. All M7's can be mismatched with general US contarctors such as Conetta, Gen Cut, etc. Prices vary, buth the 'OD crows' will fetch up to $150 or more

3. As for the Buck contract ones, although over 20,000 originals were in the overall contract, this figure has dropped, as these knives wear out/break, and are replaced with Ontario and Lan-Kay complete units. Bastardised versions exist too, Lan-Kays in Buck scabs, or Bucks in Lan-Kay scabs, etc. Also on Buck scabs an AUSCAM DPCU pouch has been procured locally, and these appear on some Buck scabs in the system, replaced when refitted, etc.

Infantry/Engineers etc get the M9, and all other Corps get the M7.

Generally speaking, only F88 (AUG 'Austeyr'), F88SA1, and F88SA2 rifles (with 508mm barrrels) are fitted for a bayonet, with exception to 3RAR where a bayonet boss is fiited to the carbine version (F88C and F88SA1C. There is no A2 carbine.

Hope this assists anyone with enquiring minds,

Regards from the ttropics,

1feral1