Kinfolk M4 WWII Fighting Knife

jsfricks · Mar 12, 2016

Me and my 7 year old grandson love most anything WWI -WWII. I received my first M4 Fighting knife in the mail today. It's was made by Kinfolk knives who made the 2nd least amount of M4's after Aeriel Cutlery Company. Another neat part of WWII history!

les.b · Mar 12, 2016

Nice find! Forgive me, I'm pretty ignorant about these things, but is that also a bayonet, like for an M-1 Carbine? M4 seems to ring a bell. It does look like the M3 knife, but seems to have an attachment system also. Anyway to seems to be in really nice shape.

flintsghost · Mar 12, 2016

The M4 is a M1 Carbine bayonet, not a fighting knife. The blade is the same pattern as the M3 trench knife.

Mack · Mar 12, 2016

Les is correct that is an M4 bayonet for the M1 Carbine, the fighting knife version was the M3.

jsfricks · Mar 12, 2016

The M4 was issued in 1944, and yes, it was a bayonet, but when it hit the battlefield there were no M1 carbines that had bayonet adapters. Although quantity production of the M4 began during 1944, carbines fitted with the bayonet adapter did not reach combat troops until very late in the war. So most were carried on the belt or leg as a fighting knife. From available photographic evidence and veteran recollections, it appears very few, if any, bayonet-equipped carbines were used in combat operations in the European Theater. It is possible that some saw action on Okinawa, but if so, it was a small number.
However, the fact that the M4 saw little or no use as a bayonet in World War 2 does not mean that it was not used in combat zones during the war. Once production of the M3 knife ceased, the M4 became the substitute and was issued in place of the M3. So although the M4 saw little or no action as a bayonet, it was extensively issued and carried as a general-purpose belt knife.
Here's some good info on it.
Bayo Points 16

les.b · Mar 13, 2016

Thanks for the information. I learn stuff on this forum every day. Again, congratulations on a great acquisition. Now, you need to find an example from each of the manufacturers that produced them! As I said earlier, I know very little about these things. I was at a local gun show yesterday, and a gentleman was selling M-1 Garand bayonets. He had quite an assortment. Some had been cut down from longer bayonets from I guess WWI period, and others were manufactured shorter to start with. Some had US scabbards, and some were outfitted with Danish scabbards. Some were dated, and others were not some were marked by manufacturers and others had the flaming bomb mark on them. I could see one thing though... I would be a complete novice at buying one of these things. I am sure that different configurations would have different values, but to me it was fascinating, but a mystery. Since I no longer have an M-1, it is something that I probably don't need to get into.

Added thought: checked out the link in your post: very nice web site, and some great information. I am learning a lot of new stuff here!! Thanks.

Texas Star · Mar 13, 2016

Thanks for the post, from a fellow knife knut.

Nice pics.

You may want to check the Lounge for my post about US Navy pilots' knives seen in the film, "The Bridges at Toko-Ri". Includes a video clip from the movie. The knives were very much what real pilots then would have worn.

les.b · Mar 13, 2016

T.S., I went to the thread you cited... Good stuff. I have the next week off for spring break, I'll be educating myself about knives a little bit. Not a subject that I know much about, but am wiling to learn. Have been doing a lot of reading for the last six months or so about WWII and Korea. So I'm in the mood to tackle some appropriate knives and bayonets!!

spad124 · Mar 15, 2016

Very nice M4!! I'll take some photos of my uncle's M3 that I have and post them for comparison. The same general M3 blade design was used up through the M7 in Vietnam. The hilt, grips, and guard changed to fit different rifles.

My uncle was with the 247th Engineer Combat Battalion and landed in Normandy a few days after D-Day. Their first operation was to put bridges over the river at St Lo. His unit was actively engaged until late April 1945. So, his M3 put on some miles.

Kinfolk M4 WWII Fighting Knife

jsfricks

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les.b

US Veteran

flintsghost

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Mack

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jsfricks

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les.b

US Veteran

Texas Star

US Veteran

les.b

US Veteran

spad124

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