These Lan-Cay M9's are Driving Me Crazy!

[Greg V]

They're driving me crazy, but I'm still lovin it!

I need some help. I'll try to make sense here.

I have two Lan-Cay M9's that are essentially identical. The only difference is the color, or shade, of the O.D. handles. Both have the early type handles, flat ground oxide blades, M9/Lan-Cay/ USA markings, and dots on the latch plates. I assume that they were both manufactured around the same time, maybe 1995. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

One has the typical OD colored handle and is in a matching OD scabbard that has the stone and is marked LANCAY. It has a buckle dated '95.

The one that I can't figure out is in a Lan-Cay marked scabbard without the stone and has more of a browm shade of OD. The handle on the M9 in this scabbard also has that more brown tone. The fastex buckle on the "brown" one is dated '04. This scabbard is identical to a new handled Lan-Cay M9 and scabbard that I took from a sealed wrapper dated '06.

Any information that anyone can share on this subject would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Greg V

[pwcosol]

From your description, it sounds like you have a pair of later-pattern Lan-Cay M9s. The date stamp on the Fastex clip may be helpful to identify when the bayonet was made, but this is very subjective for several reasons. The scabbard may not necessarily be the original one the bayonet came with. The web suspension system might have been replaced. Lastly, clips were taken from supplies & secured to the webbing during manufacture. If the bin holding the clips started to run low, earlier dated clips remaining near the bottom might now get used, until a new batch is dumped on top of them. As for the shade of the OD Zytel grip & scabbard, exposure over time can lead to some changes in color. However, most likely the slight color change is due to one bayonet being assembled years later than another, from components produced from different mold lots. The plastic formula to produce components may differ slightly from one run to the next.

[Greg V]

Thanks for the info. Do you happen to know when they changed to the new "ergo" handle? And, do you know when they omitted the sharpening stone on the scabbard?

Thanks again, Greg V

[Mister Moon]

..... i find this information about the ergo handle ... Probably 2002 .. we'll wait the info from Master Bill about it ..