M6 Bayonet

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	Weapon: M6 Bayonet Type: Knife Bayonet Country of Origin: United States Year Adopted: 1957 Overall Length (mm): 290.0 Overall Length (in): 11.42 Weight (kg): 0.30 Weight (pounds): 0.66

The US M6 bayonet was introduced in 1957 to accompany the newly adopted M14 rifle, marking a continuation of the shift toward shorter, more practical bayonets that began with the M4 during World War II. The M6 featured a 6.75-inch (171 mm) spear-point blade, nearly identical to the M4 and M5 bayonets in length and general style, but with design adjustments to fit the M14's barrel and flash suppressor. It used a spring-loaded catch located on the handle butt for secure attachment, rather than the crossguard latch of earlier models. The handle was made of molded plastic with horizontal ridges for grip, giving it a rugged and modernized appearance.

Production of the M6 bayonet was relatively limited compared to its predecessors and successors, as the M14 rifle itself was only in front-line U.S. service for a brief period before being supplanted by the M16 during the Vietnam War. Contractors such as Aerial Cutlery and Imperial produced the bayonet, often paired with the M8A1 scabbard, which was standard for U.S. bayonets of the period. Despite smaller production numbers, the M6 fulfilled its intended role, offering soldiers both a functional close-combat weapon and a reliable utility knife in the field.

In service, the M6 saw limited combat use, primarily during the early stages of the Vietnam War, before the M16 rifle and its companion M7 bayonet became standard. While not as well-known or widely distributed as other American bayonets, the M6 occupies an important place in U.S. military history as the dedicated bayonet for the M14, a rifle still used today in designated marksman and ceremonial roles. Surplus examples of the M6 remain popular among collectors, valued for their association with the short-lived but iconic M14 rifle and for representing a transitional era in American bayonet design.