Joined
·
21,635 Posts
I am always looking for M1903, M1917, M1 Carbine, and Garand Bayonets. If you have one to part with, let me know!!
When I first really got interested in vintage US military rifles, I could not afford but a couple ... the next best thing was the bayonets that rode on this warriors. Years ago you could pick them up here and there for very reasonable prices. After doing some research on these implements of war, I got hooked on the Garand bayonets manufactured by Wilde Tool Company. WT was a small tool company located in KC, Missouri (It is still there and operating today !!)
In late 1941, the US Government issued contracts to Wilde Drop Forge and Tool Company, Kansas City, Missouri (WT); Utica Cutlery Company, Utica, New York (UC); and Union Fork and Hoe Company, Columbus, Ohio (UFH). These contracts anticipated the beginning of deliveries in late 1941. With the world situation growing closer and closer to war, three other contractors were given contracts to be issued on an "as needed" basis. These companies were Pal Blade and Tool Company (PAL), Holyoke, Mass.; Oneida, Ltd., Oneida, NY (OL); and American Fork and Hoe Company, Evansville, IN (AFH). With our entry into the WWII, the 3 of the new contractor were ordered to start production as rapidly as possible. During the period 1942-1943, more than 1.5M bayonets were delivered to the armed forces.
American Fork and Hoe 350,000 23%
Oneida, Limited 235,000 16%
Pal Blade and Tool 250,000 17%
Utica Cutlery 225,000 15%
Union Fork and Hoe 385,000 26%
Wilde Drop Forge and Tool 60,000 4%
As you can see, WT only made about 60,000 bayonets out of the 1.5M produced. This is why I found them interesting. They are not as well made as most of the other manufacture’s bayonets -- the tooling was bad in many cases and they all were void of final finishing/polishing.
A few from my collection:
A set of Presentation Bayonets:
![]()
![]()
Wilde Tool Company:
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
When I first really got interested in vintage US military rifles, I could not afford but a couple ... the next best thing was the bayonets that rode on this warriors. Years ago you could pick them up here and there for very reasonable prices. After doing some research on these implements of war, I got hooked on the Garand bayonets manufactured by Wilde Tool Company. WT was a small tool company located in KC, Missouri (It is still there and operating today !!)
In late 1941, the US Government issued contracts to Wilde Drop Forge and Tool Company, Kansas City, Missouri (WT); Utica Cutlery Company, Utica, New York (UC); and Union Fork and Hoe Company, Columbus, Ohio (UFH). These contracts anticipated the beginning of deliveries in late 1941. With the world situation growing closer and closer to war, three other contractors were given contracts to be issued on an "as needed" basis. These companies were Pal Blade and Tool Company (PAL), Holyoke, Mass.; Oneida, Ltd., Oneida, NY (OL); and American Fork and Hoe Company, Evansville, IN (AFH). With our entry into the WWII, the 3 of the new contractor were ordered to start production as rapidly as possible. During the period 1942-1943, more than 1.5M bayonets were delivered to the armed forces.
American Fork and Hoe 350,000 23%
Oneida, Limited 235,000 16%
Pal Blade and Tool 250,000 17%
Utica Cutlery 225,000 15%
Union Fork and Hoe 385,000 26%
Wilde Drop Forge and Tool 60,000 4%
As you can see, WT only made about 60,000 bayonets out of the 1.5M produced. This is why I found them interesting. They are not as well made as most of the other manufacture’s bayonets -- the tooling was bad in many cases and they all were void of final finishing/polishing.
A few from my collection:
A set of Presentation Bayonets:
Wilde Tool Company:
