1954-60:
As new rifles were being issued to the US military, new bayonets had to be made as an accessory to them. The US M14 Automatic Rifle was issued in 1957 and it was designed to have an M6 bayonet. It will only fit this rifle and the non military version of it the M1A. Just like the previously issued bayonets, the M6 was made as a multipurpose tool. It could be used in combat and as a utility knife when needed. The M4 and M5 bayonets were the inspiration for the blade of the M6 and it uses the same version of the scabbard or sheath as they did. It will have a stamp USM8A1 on it and be the same olive-drab green made from fiberglass as all of the other ones will. The blade of the M6 has no markings on it at all and was similar to earlier versions of bayonets that had the black plastic grips. The M6 also had the steel Parkerized blade just as the M5 did. Under the cross guard is where you will find the US M6 stamp along with the mark of the maker. The biggest difference between the M6 and the earlier version of the M5 was that the M6 was made with a muzzle ring and the M5 was not. This bayonet will see lots of action in the coming years during the conflict with Vietnam. It is currently still being used for ceremonial purposes by different branches of the US Military.