The M5 was introduced in 1953 to replace the M1 and M1905E1 bayonets used with the M1 rifle. The M5 mated the blade of the M4 bayonet with a hilt incorporating a novel attachment system. In place of a muzzle ring, the crosspiece had a steel stud that inserted into the M1 rifle's gas cylinder lock screw.

The M5A1 incorporated an improved press catch design. M5 producers included:

—Aerial Cutlery Co.
—Jones & Dickinson Tool Co.
—Imperial Knife Co.
—Utica Cutlery Co.

This example was made by the Imperial Knife Co. of Providence, Rhode Island.

The M5 bayonet used the same M8A1 scabbard used with the M4.

The m/62 is a copy of the U.S. M5A1 bayonet, adopted by Denmark in 1962. Where these bayonet were produced has not been established. The likelihood is that they were made in Germany (perhaps by E & F Hörster). It is believed that approximately 33,000 m/62 bayonets were procured by Denmark.

The scabbard is a copy of the US M8A1, except for the woodgrain colored plastic and British-style belt fastener.

HTK is an abbreviation of Hærens Tekniske Korps (Army Technical Corps). This marking was used 1960–69.

This bayonet was produced by A. Eickhorn-Solingen, GMBH in West Germany for the government of Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier of Haiti. It is believed that a few M5A1 and M6 bayonets were produced in 1985–86, but deliveries had not began by February 1986, when Duvalier went into exile. Eickhorn stopped production and sold the few they had already produced on the commercial market.

These bayonets are very well made, exhibiting a level of fit and finish not found on U.S.-made examples. The blade has the characteristic Eickhorn plum-colored finish and the unique Haitian unit serial number. The grip is secured with phillips-head screws.

The scabbard differs from the U.S. version in that the lower is made of molded plastic without a metal tip protector. Note how large the tie hole in the tip is, compared to a U.S.-made M8A1 scabbard.

A clone of the U.S. M5A1 bayonet, but not as well made. The grip scales on these are much thinner plastic than on the U.S. version and more prone to cracking.

The scabbard is a clone of the USA M8A1.

The M6 was very similar to the M5, but used a conventional muzzle ring. M6 producers included:

—Aerial Cutlery Co.
—Imperial Knife Co.
—Columbus Milpar and    Manufacturing Co.
—Unknown producer (marked "AN")

This example was made in 1964 by the Columbus Milpar and Manufacturing Co., Columbus, OH.  According to noted U.S. bayonet authority Gary Cunningham, Milpar delivered 182,000 M6 bayonets to the U.S. Government in 1964.

The M6 bayonet used the same M8A1 scabbard used with the M4 and M5.

These must be repacked items, because I have observed bayonets produced by both Milpar and Imperial in these packages.

The history and construction are as described for the Hatian M5A1 bayonet above.

The blade marking, F A D'H, is an abbreviation for Forces Armées d'Haiti. The scabbard markings are different than on the M5A1, above, and the tie string is present.

The first of Colt's M7 bayonets were made 1961–1962 by Universal Industries of West Haven, CT. They had a green plastic grip that resembled the leather M4 bayonet grip of the Second World War. Since the M–1 Carbine was still in use, it made more sense that the M7 bayonet use the same black plastic grip parts already adopted for the post-war M4 bayonet.

Colt designated the redesigned bayonet as the "New Model" M7 and assigned it part number 62316 in the Colt inventory. This part number appears on the bayonets commercially made for Colt. The U.S. Government adopted the "New Model" M7 as the Bayonet-Knife M7 in 1964. More than 4 million M7 bayonets were produced during its more than 30-year service life.

This is one of the Colt "New Model" M7 bayonets. According to Colt, 30,000 were made by the Imperial Knife Co. of Providence, Rhode Island in 1963–1964, prior to the U.S. Government issuing its first M7 bayonet contract in May 1964. Carl Eickhorn, in West Germany, also produced private-label M7 bayonets for Colt.

The olive green scabbard body for the Imperial-made Colt New Model bayonet is unique. Unlike other M8A1 scabbards, this scabbard body has a rough crinkle-finish and no metal tip protector.

—Bauer Ordnance Corp.
—Conetta Manufacturing Co.
—Frazier Manufacturing Co.
—General Cutlery Co.
—Imperial Schrade Corp.
—Columbus Milpar and    Manufacturing Co.
—Ontario Knife Co.

This U.S. bayonet-knife M7 was made 1980–1984 by the Imperial Knife Co. of Providence, Rhode Island.  According to noted U.S. bayonet authority Gary Cunningham, Imperial delivered 194,000 M7 bayonets to the U.S. Government in the 1980’s.

The Bayonet-Knife Scabbard M10 was developed in 1987, as the supply of M8A1 scabbards began to run out. The M10 scabbard is made of injection-molded plastic, with an integral nylon web belt hanger.

Made in 1989, most likely by the General Cutlery Corporation of Fremont, Ohio. An example observed outside of the factory wrapper was made by General Cutlery. Records at Rock Island Arsenal indicate that General Cutlery delivered 24,400 M7 bayonets during 1989.