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Posted: 11/13/2012 5:37:51 PM EDT
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Picked up a pair of Dutch M1 carbine bayonet grips from Northridge Int. the other day...Now I need a good donor bayonet to put them on...
Who did the engraving on the other repro Colt marked bayonets? Braceman? Any tips on doing the conversion? 
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I've made several. The grips won't work as is. If you want to use a standard M7 bayonet (without lengthening the grips somehow), you'll have to shorten the steel area under the grips, weld in the holes, and re-drill the holes in the hardened steel. I cut out about 3/8 of an inch of material to get a good fit on the grips, then weld the thing back together. The bayonets look nice, but the downfall is they are just a hair too short to clip in place. They will mount up, just not lock in. A few pictures are below.
John Thomas 
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so what's the story on that if you can share? |
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Quoted:
Picked up a pair of Dutch M1 carbine bayonet grips from Northridge Int. the other day... How long are those Dutch grips??? The M1 carbine bayonet grips (and grip area of blade) are 1/8" shorter than M16 grips...The blade itself is the correct profile, but the crosspiece & lug-attacher [I'm not a bayonet person  ] are wrong and you would need the donors from an M16 bayonet...
I'm just wondering why you used a cut & welded M7 blade...just for the markings??? |
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Quoted:
I'm just wondering why you used a cut & welded M7 blade...just for the markings??? To me, it was easier to just work with one bayonet instead of hacking up two. There would be cutting and welding involved in getting the parts removed and re-installed either way you go. Ultimately, I made a mold for grips that fit the existing M7 bayonet and molded my own grips from resin. I've only made one of these because I didn't have very good luck. There were lots of air bubbles I had to fill in. It looks good, but was more work than I expected. I'll get some photos up when I get time. (see photos below). John Thomas |
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Here are a couple more pictures, as I mentioned above that I'd post...
The first one shows the 601 grip that I cast in resin. The second photo shows how much shorter the Dutch grips are than the standard M7 grip. Also, notice the M7 grip is a little too short to actually provide a good fit. John Thomas 
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Quoted:
Hey M1carbine, i used the Dutch grips also. I,m no where near as talented as JT (mine looks no where as good) but, it still affixes to the weapon. I just cut the grips in half and extended them. Heres a few picshttp://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l216/gordog_2006/601bayonetproject.jpghttp://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l216/gordog_2006/601bayonet.jpg I really like how you did that. When I bought the grips I knew in the back of my mind that they were short, I just didn't remember how short. For me it will definitely be easier to modify the grips rather than the bayonet. What did you use as a filler for extending the grips? |
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Quoted:
Picked up a pair of Dutch M1 carbine bayonet grips from Northridge Int. the other day... EdiT; Ah! I see now...The USM4 bayonet IS the M1 carbine bayonet... 
I ordered a set of the Dutch M4 grips... I see what you guys are doing...Instead of un-swaging the lug attachment to shorten the grip, you're leaving it intact and cutting & welding the blade under the grip, leaving the lug attachment intact...Interesting... I've taken a couple bayonets apart by pressing the lug attachment off...Not too hard...You can even pound it off with a quarter-inch bolt and a BMFH...(I did this back in 1971 to get a flat blade)... 
I have both an M1 carbine bayonet [the USM4] and an M7 bayonet; I'm thinking of putting the Dutch grips and M7 guard & lug attachment on the M1 carbine blade... 
I'm retiring at the end of the month; I hope to have lots of time to do experiments... 
BTW: Northridge International is one of the 'good ones' to deal with...A while back, I ordered a surplus M16 barrel from them...I got a brown box full of packing peanuts delivered by UPS with a neat outward-facing one inch hole in the end...and no barrel...I emailed Northridge, put in a claim with UPS, and Northridge sent out a replacement barrel in a matter of days...No additional charge... 
I have to wonder, though...Somewhere there is a UPS terminal with a "steel bar" sitting in the lost-items bin...Gotta wonder if some worker didn't recognize it and take it home... 
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I have both an M1 carbine bayonet [the USM4] and an M7 bayonet; I'm thinking of putting the Dutch grips and M7 guard & lug attachment on the M1 carbine blade...
Thats a good idea. Get one of the korean M4 bayos and an M7 with decent catch and cross guard and combine them... |
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