The M7 is a real fighting knife

[Wrangler]

I own M9s and M7s. The M9 is too big and heavy in my opinion. In my hands the M7 feels better balanced and is definately lighter to carry. The narrower blade looks better to me than the Bowie type blade of the M9. Just my opinon...so what is yours?

[Wrangler]

So far I see no one else seems to have an opinion. Maybe others have stories of how they used an M7 to good effect or another bayonet? Are they all just decorations on the end of a barrel? Ever used one for its intended purpose. The biggest knife I ever used in combat was a machette. It was awesome in its ability to intimidate and route my foes of that night.

[m9er]

Never used one in the "fighting knife" role, just like collecting them and have a "beater" that I use from time to time. To me the M7 definitely looks and feels better than the M9 when mounted on the A1. To me, just the little extra weight of the M9 makes a big difference in the balance of the rifle when compared to the M7.

[Wrangler]

I agree with you that it is a better balanced knife. Speaking of which, I was in Big 5 the other day and picked up a S&W 960 for $18.00. What a nice cheap knife. Why is it so sweet because I love the balance and weight of it.

[Quarterbore]

FWIW, I have a couple M7 Bayonets and they are certainly lighter then the M9 but I think as a survival knife the M9 bayonet is better tool. The M7 is certainly a better bayonet.

I am looking for anyone that knows the history of the M7 to help compile that M7 history...

http://www.m7bayonet.com/

I would love to get some help to compile info like Bill and other helped do for:

http://www.m9bayonet.com/

Yea, the sites look pretty similar

[biboufab]

All that is a personal " point " of " view " ... For me , the fighting knife " ideal is the S.A.S dagger F&S all years ... and the ideal survival knife is the WILKINSON dartmoor ... The M7 & M9 was and are only simply M16 / M4 bayonet .......

Mister Moon for WWW.M9M4.COM

[Wrangler]

The only blade I actually used in a hostile encounter happened to be a machette. It was very effective. By the way in Hondurace I saw the bodies of two men ho killed each other in a bar fight with machetes. Both lost or wn as you may see it. They both bled to death.

[M9A1]

good

[Zombie]

Of course it is a fighting knife, it was made for the military. I carry one in Iraq right now, it's a great knife. The lanyard keeps it from getting caught on the humvee when we are out, and its just small enough to curve with me in the seat. Honestly I like the OKC-3S just as much, but the M7 is a lot lighter and easier for me to work with. Overall a great tool.

[HKMan]

The M7 is a Dagger-style bayonet/knife. Any bayonet can be used as a fighting knife but the Dagger vs. Bowie are two different styles of fighting knife and consequently the fighting styles for each type is different!

This is very hard and I'm no expert on knife fighting. However the emphasis today has gone from a pure Fighting Knife/Bayonet that could be used as a survival knife/tool in a pinch, to a Survival Knife/Tool that can be used as a Bayonet in a pinch! LOL!

This is why the M9 is more valued today-easpecially by the Marines. However the best M7 is made by Eickhorn of Germany and I have the Extended-butt version that works with the Civillian 16" barrels! Actually though, the best version of the M7-which elliminates the Bayonet function but enhances both it's fighting knife and survival knife status is the Eickhorn Recon Force Dagger by Eickhorn. Go to www.youwantit2.com and check it out.

However as a Bayonet/Wire Cutter/Survival Knife I'm extremely partial to the Italian Extrema Ratio Fulcrum bayonet/knife. To me this is the best of them all!