LanCay P.I. Prototype M9s

[pwcosol]

Pictured are a couple of LanCay prototype product improved M9 bayonets, circa 1995. Homer Brett states in his excellent book "The Military Knife & Bayonet", M9 bayonets with these modified webbing systems were submitted to the Army & USMC for evaluation. I was informed by Mr. Brett the reason was twofold for this change. It was determined the exposed sharpening stone on the LanCay scabbard systems led to tearing of uniforms & abrasions by the wearer. In addition, the Fastex belt clip arrangement tended to rattle & make excessive noise.
In response to this, one pattern was provided with a stone covering flap similar in function to the original Phrobis design. The other variant had a more radically redesigned webbing arrangement which not only provided a stone covering flap, but eliminated the Fastex clip.
The first two photos are of the first variant. The bayonet is a early second contract with "LanCay" blade marking, hollow ground blade, & black oxide finish. The last two photos are of the second pattern. The bayonet is also marked "LanCay", has the laser-cut blade, & black oxide finish.

[Carlo]

I'm wondering how more nice bayonets we'll see coming from you collection!
Looking at the pictures I can't stop asking myself how ironic is that LanCay was trying to go backwards, to the original Phrobis design scabbard system

[pwcosol]

Carlo: Thank you for your kind comments regarding the two bayonets. Lancay was indeed fortunate the Army finally decided to allow modifications to the existing M9 configuration...something never granted to Phrobis. I believe these modifications (mostly simplifications or eliminations) allowed LanCay to reduce the amount of work necessary to produce the bayonet, but still receive the same unit price agreed to in their contracts. Likely rather than incurr a minor rise in cost to produce the bayonet scabbard with a stone protector flap, LanCay asked for & received authorization to eliminate the stone altogether on their product improved scabbard, solving that problem permanently!

It seemed aparrent to Phrobis the stone protector flap was necessary on the M9, yet LanCay was not required to supply this so didn't. Even Phrobis did away with it on the M9A1, but still retained it on their M9 product line. I would guess Phrobis elected to eliminate the stone protector flap on the M9A1 because the new Zytel scabbard system required no webbing, and the position of the scabbard on the utility belt might have reduced abrasion problems, although I think the stone would have been discarded by Phrobis eventually on the M9A1

[Carlo]

This is part of a letter by Homer Brett (we all know him as the author of a great book on military bayonets but he was, indeed, also involved in the LanCay design) on the subject

[pwcosol]

What Homer B. had to say is most informative. It seems surprising (or maybe not so much) it took two years to resolve the issue of the stone. Since LanCay was able to eliminate the stone protector strap from their initial contract with the Army, this was easier to accomplish than have it reinstituted! Why LanCay sought to delete the need for the strap in the first place, & the Army allowed it, would be interesting to know. I think one of the primary problems encountered, & made clear by Homer, was difficullties encountered with governmental bureaucrats. During the course of production these people came & went, so they were always dealing with different people in positions of authority, whom may have held opposing views when it came to incorporating changes in the M9 design....

[Carlo]

Originally Posted by pwcosol

Why LanCay sought to delete the need for the strap in the first place, & the Army allowed it, would be interesting to know.

I would guess the answer is quite simple: MONEY!
Based on what I remember from the (also excellent) book by Gary Cunningham, the price for a single M9 bayonet dropped from approximately $ 50 (1986 dollars) to less than $ 20 (hope to be correct, as I always don't remember if it was 19.99 or 9.99 ).
You HAVE to cut somewhere to reduce the price in such a way.