M6 Bayonet
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The M6 Bayonet is a bayonet used by the U.S. military for the M14 rifle. It was introduced in 1957, at the same time as the rifle itself. It is the only type of bayonet made for the M14, and the only other rifle it fits is the civilian model, the M1A.
The M6 was intended to serve additional roles as a combat knife and utility knife, and so it was made at a manageable size, much like the M5 that had been created for the M1 Garand. The blade is 6 5/8 inches long, with an overall length of 11 3/8 inches.
The M6 was largely replaced by the M7 during the Vietnam War when the M16 rifle came into service. The most notable differences between the two are the diameter of the muzzle rings, the shape of the handle, and the locking mechanism. The M6 has a spring-loaded button near the guard that releases the bayonet when gripped, and the M7's release is on the pommel. Both models are the same length, both are black, and both use the M8A1 scabbard.
Today, the M6 is mainly used for ceremonial purposes, particularly in the Navy and Marine Corps where the M14 is still used for exhibition drill.
See also
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