US M4 bayonet, rubber grip. (ABCN141)(K24)(JN228-1)

US M1 Carbine, M1A1 carbine and M2 carbine. Minty parkerized blade with long false edge. Excellent nearly tubular hard rubber handle, made of two pieces of hard black rubber. Six grooves. Straight crossguard with muzzle ring MRD 15 mm. No maker marks. Parkerized pommel with two spring loaded locking catches is. Blade tang is peened and black painted. The latch pins are peen marked.
Excellent green plastic M8A1 scabbard with a grommet and metal tip and a lace hole in the tip. Throat is marked: USM8A1 over US makers name: PWH. (= Workhouse For the Blind. Philadelphia-Pennsylvania). Green integral webbing with a belt hook and a retaining strap.

Many leather early leather gripped bayonets were refurbished with rubber grips after 1945 and during the 50ties by soft gray-black rubber grips in Japan or Korea. This particular one, not maker marked and with a nearly tubular hard rubber black grip, could have been made by Utica as part of a limited production for a government test. This is not known for certain, however.

Scarce and very nice well made example!