1990 Commerical M9

[ColinG]

On ebay there is a Buck/Phrobis commercial M9 with the + (plus) sign indicating 1990 manufacture date. It is my understanding that Buck and Phrobis seperated in 1989 with the completion of their military contract and that Buck continued to produce commercial versions starting in 1990 sans Phrobis markings. Would this Buck/Phrobis be a fake, a rare version, or other? I am considering bidding on it, but I would like to be sure that it isn't some knockoff or run-of-mill commercial M9 as I already own a mint, all black 1989 manufactured Buck/Phrobis commercial. Thanks in advance.

[ColinG]

Excuse me. I meant the bayonet had a 'X' after it - not a + (plus) which would indicate 1991. Sorry about that.

[porterkids]

Can you post a link or the auction number?

[ColinG]

The item # is: 200268082712. Perhaps someone with better computer skills that I have can post a direct link.

[Carlo]

Hello Colin,
thank you for your question....I saw the auction but I didn't think about it!
First of all the auction link
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...earchZ1QQfviZ1
I have looked around in my notes, and I found part of a letter by H. Brett which could help you.
Here it is:
.
Sorry because the image size is not that great.
Basically, from what I understood, while the military contract ended in 1989, an agreement between Phrobis and Buck was arranged only by April 1991.
So yes, in 1990 you could still find the Phrobis&Buck marking on the commercial M9.
Hope this helps and apologize for my english!

[ColinG]

Thank you Carlo. That is interesting. So it may be conceivable that a commerical version with the Buck/Phrobis markings could be found with the '+' date symbol! Thanks again.

[porterkids]

I suppose anything is possible but I've never seen a Phrobis/Buck with the "+" date mark. The 1991 marked bayonets had the Phrobis stamping completely eliminated and the Buck stamping was moved from the right to the left ricasso.