US Army Bayonet My Modern Day "Bringback" from China!!!!

**40 caliber** · 04-05-2012, 07:26 PM

Some of you that know me, know I travel to China for business on a regular basis. I just got back today from a 3 week tour. This time instead of rushing home, I had a friend take me away from the city of Shanghai and into more of "real China". I was for 3 days the only foreigner (non asian) guy to be seen.

We ended up in this small village in the province of Anhui. a beautiful area with jagged mountains, old villages and very poor people. This particular village is a little touristy but mostly visited only by Chinese. While walking through the city, i come across a bayonet marked with the U.S. Ordnance Bomb!!! I know nothing about bayonets other than CMP had M1 Garand Bayos for sale for $65 or so.

I pick up the bayonet and see it is marked 1942 with a Bomb on the hilt as well as the manufacturer AFH. (which turns out to be American Fork and Hoe). I buy it and look it up in my 3 year old Military firearms book. It says it is a Model 1942 for a 1903 Springfield. (experts weigh in if I am wrong-please) The book says it is valued at $200-$350!! Not bad since I only paid 200 chinese yuan ($32)

I have pictures, the chinese newspaper it was wrapped in and my plane ticket back from Shanghai. I dont know how that rates for Provenance but anyone got an idea if and how much it adds to value? Either way, it is a great story!!!!

One other thing? How did it get to China? We had some forces in shanghai prior to WWII with the french , Japanese and Russians I believe, but any other thoughts? Could it be from Vietnam, some war trophy from the other side from a fallen US soldier? i guess we won't know.
At least it is home now.......Enjoy

the town where I found it.

The table and lady I bargained with. She wanted $50

The Prize!!!! Note the Chinese newspaper

**PATRON** · 04-05-2012, 07:58 PM

Nice find but the Chinese scare me, because they are very good at making fakes

**40 caliber** · 04-05-2012, 08:02 PM

Originally Posted by PATRON

Nice find but the Chinese scare me, because they are very good at making fakes

you think this is a fake? no i dont think so. aged Patina, rust, only one she had. If it was a fake, I would be seeing thousands of these in my trips around China. everybody sells the same crap. This was a first.

**Dradian** · 04-05-2012, 08:02 PM

Originally Posted by PATRON

Nice find but the Chinese scare me, because they are very good at making fakes

At $32, I think its worth the risk

**PATRON** · 04-05-2012, 08:35 PM

I did not say it is a fake. but the Chinese are very good at making fakes with rust and all.

**ccm75** · 04-05-2012, 08:38 PM

Very cool.....

**Maninblue1861** · 04-05-2012, 08:39 PM

Is blade full 16" or cut to 10"?. Either way $32 a steal. FWIW looks legit to me as it looks like mine

**40 caliber** · 04-05-2012, 09:08 PM

Originally Posted by PATRON

I did not say it is a fake. but the Chinese are very good at making fakes with rust and all.

No but your comment insinuates it. I have been going to China for 4 years. I have a total of over 350 days in country. I have seen fake rolex's , cartier's gucci bags, NFL Patriot jersey, DVDs, fake terra cotta warriors and a slew of other stuff. This is the first time to see this in a small remote village in the middle of no where. When it comes to fakes you find them on every corner...and some place where they can get big money from the Laoweis (foreigners).... but hey ,,,, no worries. each to their own opnion.

Originally Posted by Maninblue1861

Is blade full 16" or cut to 10"?. Either way $32 a steal. FWIW looks legit to me as it looks like mine

It is 10" . were these cut down by the service? the plastic scabbard fits the 10"

**nheric** · 04-05-2012, 10:20 PM

cool find and awesome story.

**mark056** · 04-05-2012, 10:34 PM

There were U.S. Forces in China in WWII as well as considerable military aid (remember the supply of China) "flying over the hump"...the fact that it showed up there is really neat, but not remarkable. If only that bayonet could talk. We also did military aid packages for Chiang Kai -shek after the war until he was driven off the mainland in 1949.

Since we did so many military aid packages in the WWII era and post WWII era, one can find US military equipment virtually everywhere in the world.

Congrats on a great find.

US Army Bayonet My Modern Day "Bringback" from China!!!!

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