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porterkids
Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2005 2:48 pm Post subject: First Generation Issued M9
As we all know and have read many times, the first 1200 M9 bayonets had the ">" chevron date code on the left ricasso. Of the 1200 pieces made with this mark, 1034 were shipped to the Army and 166 were held back, numbered and sold to collectors. Looking at the numbers, one is to believe that the numbered chevron bayonets are more scarce than their un-numbered counterparts. After all, there are a little more than six times as many un-numbered bayonets out there. That, however, is not the case. The numbered chevron bayonets were never issued and were sold to collectors. Most, if not all, are still in the hands of collectors and trade hands, not regularly, but from time to time. The un-numbered chevron bayonets were the very first M9 bayonets delivered to the Army and were immediately placed into service. In the 18 years that I've been collecting M9 bayonets, this is the first one that I have seen for sale.
The closing price was high, but that's what can happen in any auction where you have more than one person with an interest in a particular item. Could a dozen or more of these show up next week? Absolutely, and then the price will seem ridiculous. But what if the majority of them were used to the point that they were scrapped or disposed of? What will the remaining examples be worth in years to come?
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