M9 Bayonet

[K Robinson]

I have aquired an M9 Bayonet with the markings of Buck on one side of the blade and Phrobis III on the other side of the blade.
In my search for an M9 in mint condition I found many marked with just Phrobis and many marked just Buck but this is the only one that I have found with both markings,I assume that Phrobis and Buck are two differant companies so how would the stamps of differant companies end up on one knife? some kind of collibration or one company sub-contracting to another?anyway I thought you the Buck collector would be my best bet for an educated answer.

Thanks in advance

Kevin

 

[Joe Houser]

Kevin,

The first bayonets were made by Buck as a subcontractor for Phrobis. We made about 300k for the Army and only the first 1200 had any reference to Buck on the stamp. We put the date code for 1987 ">" on those until we were told to stop.
During the Army contract, there were quite a few commercial versions sold by Buck and they had the stampings you described.

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Joe Houser
Director of Quality, Buck Knives Inc.
Buck Collectors club Administrator