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Did WW I trench guns use bayonets?

Lance
Was a bayonet fixture for the Winchester Model 1897 trench gun available, and used, during World War I?
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Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • partisan
    Lance; I am about 99% sure that a bayonet lug was on these trench guns. I'm no expert, so I hope somebody else will help on your question.
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  • duckhunter
    Yes.
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  • Lance
    So it is reasonable to believe that some of Pershing's AEF used Winchester Model 97s with bayonet attached when they attacked German trenches?
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  • pingjockey
    Years ago I had a close to 100% 97 trench, vented hand guard and bayonet lug. Traded it away, what was I thinking!
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  • Dean Cascio
    I think 99% of the bayonet were thrown away or other wise lost as soon as the NCO's were looking the other way.[;)]
    Dean
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  • Lance
    quote:Originally posted by pingjockey

    Years ago I had a close to 100% 97 trench, vented hand guard and bayonet lug. Traded it away, what was I thinking!
    My concern/query is not about M97s, but about the bayonet. I need reassurance or some sort of documentation link to verify that the bayonet fixture for the M97s was not a post-WW I or World War II alteration. If the fixture was available, it should be reasonable to believe at least some Doughboys would have affixed bayonets to M97s when attacking trench works.

    The 1917 bayonet could have been storage inventory for use, for example, by POW camp guards during WW II -- probably was. But it's AEF service I'm interested in.
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  • Ambrose
    What duckhunter said--YES. Check Joe Poyer's book.
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  • beantownshootah
    Yes, the WWI era trenchguns had bayonet lugs. Here's a period pic:

    firearms_shotgun_m1897_600.jpg

    And here's an instruction period pic on how to mount it!
    bayonet_m1917_shotgun.jpg

    Good link here:
    http://www.olive-drab.com/od_edged_weapons_bayonet_m1917.php

    Presumably, at SOME point during the war, somebody actually stuck a bayonet on one of these shotguns and used it.
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  • givette
    Yes. Can you imagine the order "Fix Bayonets" resounding through the trench, and the shotgunners not doing it?

    I digress..the P14 (Pattern14) Enfield in .303 British was being mf'd by us to send to the Brits prior to our getting in the fray. We also were mfg'ing shotguns for the Brits, and so we made the shotgun bayo lug assembly to fit the S.M.L.E. and P14 bayonets to keep things "simple".

    I think<--unconfirmed speculation on my part// that the M97's were not issued overseas prior to our involvement in the conflict, and so, the US AEF went overseas with guns that took two bayonets. (M1905, and S.M.L.E bayonets). After we started manufacturing the P17 rifle in 30Govt06, and fitting out US troops with it, the US AEF even had a rifle for the british bayonet, in addition to the shotgun.

    Yep, fix'ing bayonets is something all troops did when given the order. Best, Joe

    EDIT:
    Unconfirmed..bayo for the Pattern 17 rifle (M1905 or S.M.L.E). I think it was the british style bayo. Best again, Joe
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  • glabray
    Did you get the raffle tickets from the Seagoing Marines? They are raffling off a WWI Model 97 with bayonet lug.
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