M4 Bayonet

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	Weapon: M4 Bayonet Type: Knife Bayonet Country of Origin: United States Year Adopted: 1944 Overall Length (mm): 290.0 Overall Length (in): 11.42 Weight (kg): 0.30 Weight (pounds): 0.66

The US M4 bayonet was introduced in 1944 during World War II, specifically designed for the M1 Carbine, which had become one of the most widely issued American small arms of the war. Its design borrowed heavily from the earlier M3 fighting knife, featuring a 6.75-inch (171 mm) spear-point blade with a single edge and fuller. The handle was initially constructed from stacked leather washers, providing a secure grip, though later variations used molded plastic. Compact and lightweight compared to the long M1905 bayonet, the M4 was more practical for paratroopers, vehicle crews, and infantrymen operating in confined conditions.

Production of the M4 bayonet began late in World War II, with more than 2.9 million manufactured by multiple contractors, including Imperial, Camillus, and Utica. Unlike the lengthy M1905, the M4's shorter blade made it more versatile for combat and field tasks, while still providing effective use as a bayonet when mounted. It was issued with the M8 and later M8A1 scabbards, which featured improved durability and carrying options. The high production numbers and simple design ensured widespread availability well into the postwar period.

The M4 bayonet saw combat in the final campaigns of World War II, and it became standard issue throughout the Korean War and into the Vietnam War, where it remained a useful weapon and utility knife. Its practical design influenced subsequent bayonet models, including the M5, M6, and M7, all of which followed its compact pattern adapted for newer rifles. While not as iconic as the Garand's bayonet, the M4 is remembered for its utility, mass production, and role as the first of the modern "short" U.S. bayonets, bridging the gap between the long sword-like bayonets of the past and the multipurpose combat knives of the present.