1961-75 Vietnam:
During the conflict with Vietnam, a new rifle came into service for the US Military. It was the M16 rifle and with it came the M7 bayonet. This bayonet is similar to the M4, M5, and M6 meant for the M1 Carbine but the muzzle ring on the M7 is much larger than the one on the M4. There are several differences in the M6 and the M7 with the biggest changes being made to the locking mechanism and the size of the muzzle rings. The M^ used a spring loaded lever that was close to the guard that had to be pressed before the bayonet would release. The M7 used a release mechanism on the pommel. The shape of the blade on a M7 bayonet is virtually the same and unchanged from the earlier versions of military bayonets similar to this one. They have the same Parkerized black finish and have the same black grips as the other versions of the military bayonets that came before the M7. The M7 also utilizes the same scabbard or sheath which is marked with a M8A1. These were made in several different countries at the time and could have been from either the US, West Germany, South Korea, the Phillipines, or from Singapore and will be marked under the cross guard with the maker’s name. Many of the earlier versions of bayonets for the military were also used during the conflict with Vietnam for utility purposes and in hand to hand combat from the trenches.