M6 Bayonet
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The M6 Bayonet is a bayonet used by the U.S. military for the M14 rifle. It was introduced in 1957, at the same time as the rifle itself. It is the only type of bayonet made for the M14, and the only other rifle it fits is the civilian version of the M14, the M1A.
The M6 was intended to serve additional roles as a combat knife and utility knife, and so it was made in a manageable size, much like the M5 bayonet created earlier for the M1 Garand. The overall length is 11 3/8 inches, with a blade 6 5/8 inches long.
The M6 was largely replaced by the M7 bayonet during the Vietnam War, when the M16 rifle came into service. The most notable differences between the two are the diameter of the muzzle rings, the shape of the handle, and the locking mechanism. The M6 has a spring-loaded lever near the guard that when depressed releases the bayonet, and the M7's release mechanism is on the pommel. Both models are the same length, have the same black finish, and use the M8A1 sheath.
Today, the M6 is mainly used for ceremonial purposes, particularly by the Army and Navy, both of which still use the M14 bayonet for exhibition drill.
