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Just checked my clear first variation (LanCay). Fastex clip is dated 3/95. Because the MPBS is a modular system, it works as an advantage for either maintenance or upgrading the design during it's service life. However, this may or may not be beneficial for we collectors. Nearly any combination of parts can be assembled into a complete M9. A fair number of such bayonets (Lancay variants in particular) have appeared on the market in the past 15 years or so. If some of the scarcer Lancay military production M9s originated only from those produced & delivered to the Army, and not from over-runs or assembled from left-over parts procured from Lancay, I assure you there would be far fewer examples of these in collector hands!
In the book "American Gladius", Capt. Pattarozzi concentrates only on those known M9 variants as produced by Phrobis/Buck, Lancay, & Ontario delivered to the military. He discusses the difficulty in obtaining bonafide "issue" M9s as opposed to those sold commercially. This is why a provenance is of great help when acquiring any M9. The bottom line is any of us may have one or more M9 bayonet variations which are identical to a pattern produced for the US military, but were assembled after the fact. However, it may be impossible to establish this for certain. Therefore, so long as the bayonet conforms to the correct pattern it can be considered a legitimate example until proven otherwise.
Last edited by pwcosol; 05-27-2009 at 10:41 AM.
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