M7 Bayonet with U.S. M8A1 Scabbard
MFD. Eickhorn
M7 Bayonet with U.S. M8A1 Scabbard
Manufactured by Carl Eickhorn Waffenfabrik AG or A. Eickhorn GmbH (AES)
Solingen, West Germany
1975 -1990
Steel, plastic, fiberglass, nylon
Blade: 17,1cm
Hilt & Blade: 29,8cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: 33cm
Collection Date: 2015
Collection Number: 190
A West German Eickhorn manufactured U.S. M7 bayonet in the M8A1 scabbard produced for the Colt M16 rifle. Popular during the Vietnam War and still used to the present day. This example dates to somewhere from 1975 to the 1980s, and is old new stock. It is difficult to know exactly which manufacturer or the time of production due to the many variations produced. The original Carl Eickhorn Waffenfabrik produced M7 bayonets until 1975, famous for their Colt M7 contract. Later, another successor, A. Eickhorn GmbH (AES) produced M7's into the 80's with a one piece grip.
The hilt is composed of plastic two-piece grip with a steel pommel. The blade is parkerized black carbon steel with a spearpoint form marked "US M7 stamped on the crossguard. The scabbard is green fiberglass with a steel throat marked "U.S. M8A1 Germany." Nylon belt loop with metal hangers. The studs are marked " Eickhorn*Solingen*". Eickhorn models were some of the better quality manufactured bayonets. Approximately 80,000 were produced for Colt out of Solingen by Carl Eickhorn.