USMC Buck+

[mocityman]

I sure would hope people would consult the experts on this forum before buying an USMC M9 like this, and spending a bunch of money

I've never seen one without scabbard wear. Also the buttons looked painted. The strap on the top clip doesn't usually come off unless it's been carried.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BUCK-KNIFE-M...item2a28435b97

[Mister Moon]

I know VIPERBRUCE is a good guy, he's on ebay since 2001.

The USMC blade in your link Mocityman, has been refinished. (According me)
as many BUCK 184 that VIPERBRUCE sells. (According me "again").

[Mister Moon]

From Joe HOUSER :

I think your right, the blade was refinished. I guess the strap was lost.

Joe Houser
Director of Consumer Relations
Buck Collectors Club Liaison

[Misfit-45]

No comments on the M9 in question, but it brings up a question I have about the use of the early Phrobis M9 scabbard. I have a USMC + M9 that also has the top strap of the scabbard cut off. Does anyone know if it is a common practice to cut them off, maybe because it might restrict movement?
I know that with German bayonets from WWII, the scabbards are often found with the leather strap cut off the frog.
Thanks
Marv

[mocityman]

Can you post a photo of the top strap on your bayonet? My experience in looking at the Phrobis Bayonets is that when they are carried quite a bit, the stitching comes loose and the strap just falls off.

[Misfit-45]

That's a real possibility for my bayonet, Mocityman. Here are the pics.
Marv

[mocityman]

Yes, it looks to me like the stitching came loose and the strap fell off. I have several where the strap is just held on by a few threads. I also have a few where the strap has come off and someone put a nice heavy duty rivet through the strap to hold it on.

It's still possible that it does restrict movement and therefore someone cut it off.

[Jay Talbot]

Hi,In regards to the strap loss,I have a few Aussie ones the same.

I picked up one that had been fixed by removing the steel rivets, unraveling the webbing then resewing the strap back on.Then the webbing has been rolled up and reattached using brass push together cutlers rivets.

It looked like a one-off modification,until I found another three done the same way.The seller told me he did the mods to all the ones I had in my collection plus about another twenty or thirty.He told me that the handle would wear the stitching away during movement until it just fell off.

I have a mint Gen 2 that has very loose strap stitching,so maybe that is why some fall off as well.

Jay