The various types and makers of the versitile M7 bayonet

[Quarterbore]

K75thranger
Sun Mar 20, 2005 11:29 pm Post subject: The various types and makers of the versitile M7 bayonet


I have been collecting M7 bayonets since the US Army first issued me one in 1970. Having actually used this bayonet in combat with the 1st Cav Division I have grown to love it. I don't think people realize just how many different versions and makers have been a part of M7 bayonet history. In my collection I have the US makers, BOC, Colt, Conetta, FZR, GenCut, Imperial, Milpar, and Ontario. Foriegn examples in my collection are the Korean Eagle, Australian, Israeli, Belgium, Dutch, Panmanian 8 inch and the Canadian C7 made by Nella. Not to be left out by any means are the German M7's. Eickhorn made more varieties of the M7 then any other maker.....the 9 inch double edged version, the wire-cutter M7 with wirecutting scabbard, Colt marked blades made in W. Germany and after reunification, made in Germany, shortened cross-guard versions for use on the M-16 as well as the HK G3. I have a M7 that is marked US M7 TAC, which appears to be an unknown maker. I have 3 of the 4 Imperial Vietnam commemorative M7's, missing only the US Navy one. In my collection I have the standard black plastic handle as well as the rare white handle, several of the tan handle ones, and a green plastic handled BOC alledgedly designed for use with Delta Force. Two green handled Armalite M7's with the Colt logo on the blade have a special section in my collection. But by far, the pride of my M7 collection is #33 of 40 Product Improved Ranger Experimental bayonets produced for Ranger testing when the US Army was originally planning to replace the M7. This particular version is cutting blade up with a serrated edge. This particular M7 PI is only one of 24 that survived the Ranger tests out of the original 40. I have several combat trench versions of the M7 from both Vietnam and Desert Storm. Recent Chinese rip offs of the M7 with blood grooved bowie blades are in my collection as well as both versions of the SARCO bowie blade rip offs, one with black plastic handle and the other with a leather handle. I have a leather handled Mark 2 blade M7 that very well may be one of the Rodman laboratories 1975 experimental M7's but I haven't been able to authenticate it. I would be willing to share any information and facts about the M7 with anyone. And if interested I can post photos of the special M7's in my collection.

[Quarterbore]

K75thranger,

Welcome to the forum and sorry it took me a couple days to see you posted! I am in the Valley Forge PA area so I am glad to find someone local that is willing to help get this started...

I am having major problems with another website forum (HENCE THE FORUMS ARE ALL NOW HERE TOGETHER!!!) where I have been working a great deal. I still don't know what happened but the database with all the content was deleted. I am working to get it restored through my host if they can.

In the meanwhile, please advise what forums you think are needed and how would you like to become a Moderator and in essence I will turn the M7 forums over to you for now? I have been swamped at work the past couple weeks as it's end of the first quarter-2005 but after that I will have some time to get working on this project (hopefully with you and others)...

Also, I have a fancy new Digital Canon Rebel SLR so if we could ever meet I can help you get photos of any of your knives you would like to share...

Best Regards and THANK YOU for showing interest,
QB

[McGowan]

Hi new to the fourms, but just wondering is the M7 Bayonet the same as the Canadian C7 bayonet made by Nella? thank you! :D

[TheNorseman]

I recieved an M7 for Christmas from my father, and begin looking for information about it. My search hasn't turned up very much information, but I found this forum. I was hoping someone here could point me in the right direction.

[porterkids]

Welcome to the forum. Does your bayonet have any markings on it? Possible locations of markings are the blade or the front of the crossguard. Can you post or email any photos?
________

[TheNorseman]

Thanks. The guard is marked "US M7 BOC". I figured "BOC" names the maker, but I haven't been able to find any information on them.

[Quarterbore]

Originally Posted by TheNorseman

Thanks. The guard is marked "US M7 BOC". I figured "BOC" names the maker, but I haven't been able to find any information on them.

BOC is "Bauer Ord. Corp"

Post what you may learn as I have not had the time to try to learn the basics of the M7 yet myself!

[M1Garandfather]

Hello!...My first post here on this talk forum...I too like the M7 bayonets , and have started collecting them...I suppose I have about 40 pcs of the U.S. made ones so far...Being from Canada , we use a variant of the M7 called the C7 , it is stamped simply "Nella" , same dimentions as the M7 except the blade is finished bright , as it is stainless steel.

Right now the Milpar made M7's are the ones i like to pick up , have about 14 of them...Why I am drawn to them is the wide variety of blade styles I've found on them , some slim and dagger like , other wide and flat and so on...So that is the question i will pose here , anyone have ideas why there are so many different blade styles with the Milpar's?

Thanks and regards ,

Bob

[Quarterbore]

Would you be interested in helping me document some of the M7s you have for another of my projects:

http://www.m7bayonet.com

I have just been swamped with work lately so I don't get to do as much with the websites but there really are no good M7 Bayonet resources out there so I would love to get something started...

Let me know,
Ken

[M1Garandfather]

Hello Ken: I would be interested in helping out with the project , and by the sounds of his collection , hopefully K75thranger will too....

What kind of work do you have in mind?...

Thanks,
Bob