I remember thinking, "Man, that is a cool bayonet." when I first saw it, then I held it.

They haven't banned military-style assault knives in Australia yet? Wow.... In '94 when i went through Basic i had an M7, when i got to my unit, we still had the M7s, lighter, smaller.... Buck knives carry model numbers, 188 is the model number. "M9" is the military designation.

Thank you for disassembling the tang to show its inherent weakness. That is why I never bought one. Instead, I built a custom large solingen bowie blade + M7 hand guard and butt attachment to fit my Mossberg 590. I made grip scales out of black walnut and a sheath out of harness leather. It is very intimidating, pointy and sharp.

Excellent example of form over function: beautiful to look at, but very heavy and uncomfortable to hold. Kept mine locked up and carried the old Kabar for utility use

We had a big box full of those on our deployment in 2012-2013. It stayed locked the entire time, and we only opened it once to count them at the end of the deployment.

Theses things are worth a crap-ton on the Military surplus Market these days, one that is Broad arrow marked should be worth a small Fortune.

Lots of U.S. soldiers hated these when they were first issued that they sold or traded them at surplus shops for the more desirable M7. I personally have a Phrobis III which is rarer than the more common Camillus.

Great insights, I think the steel is 420 stainless-at least that’s what Ontario was using. 420 SS is terrific for corrosion resistance and toughness-a lot of jet hen knives are made with it-in the kitchen it’s less likely to snap tips or chip edges on bone, get thrown in dirty dishwater for days, etc. Doesn’t hold a good edge but easy to sharpen up. I chose this steel for a pick/hammer/prybar tool and it’s done great. But no edges to maintain either.

That's a true big bad buff guy knife

as someone who bought a personal M9 bayonet (Smith & Wesson SW3B to be exact) for my US Army service use this sums up my thoughts perfectly, the knife overall is a great utilitarian knife and option, but the scabbard and frog just dangle and flops everywhere. I ended up taking the wire hanger and strapping/hooking that to the back right of my battle belt, but could never solve the floppiness, i tried with 550 by simply pulling the scabbard up to take the slack off the frog but the 550 wore and broke quickly, but i learn to live with it, might come back and edit if i can find a way still. But i used the extra pocket for and extra multitool, over all about a 8/10 for me

My squad used M9's on deployment a few times and never had issues. Very handy and when used properly cuts through concertina wire fairly easy. I have one in my personal collection.

If you think this is bad you should try the British army SA80 bayonet. It’s like a 18/19 century plug bayonet that you can fire off the end of your rifle.

Man that M7 has seen some use. It's almost like they made the M9 for the collector but not for the soldier.

For a military grade knife and a bayonet to boot, that tang is is a little nuts - just way too short.

Great video my friend! The 188 is Buck's model number. I also hated the damn thing and even took them from my troops because they were more likely to stab themselves or each other with them. We never carried them in the field, too bulky and heavy. I have an old LanCay just for nostalgia. Your Buck with the Aussie broad arrow would bring a premium with collectors here in the US. I would love to get my hands on an M7/M10 Aussie bayonet scabbard as well. The green painted scabbards are scarce here.

Phrobus (probably spelled that wrong) was actually a Buck subsidiary company if I recall correctly.

IMO, It’s a fine knife, and a massive improvement over the M8. Unlike the previous bayonets, this one is actually useful as a field knife. That said; 1) It’s way too thick. OK, thicker is stronger, but I believe a thinner 3/16 blade would be way more useful, sharper, and tough enough; 2) The handle is uncomfortable. Continuing to use the previous bayonet’s handle would have been better; and, 3) The sharpening stone is inadequate. Placing a double-grit diamond stone in the pouch would have been better. I find the ergonomics of the AK bayonet wire cutter to be better. What would I do, if asked to design a bayonet? I’d start with a second gen Kanarese tango pattern, modifying the tip to incorporate a wire cutter. I’d then shape the handle to an ovoid shape, similar to the M8.

I found one for sale missing the top clip on the scabbard for $800. Reckon that’s alright?

I used to hate that bayonet when I was in the army (11b 10th mountain). I remember one time we were in the field and someone lost theirs and we had to search all day for that damn thing being how it was a sensitive item. Thank God it was found and we were able to go back to barracks. I did however purchase a couple a few years back just to have em . Nostalgia I guess

Good information thanks

You can strip the scabbard down pretty small and still carry it securely. I liked the fact bayonet was easily rebuildable. I chopped,hacked,poked and punished mine and had no handle loosening nor fractures. I will say I used some Velcro to secure unit to my thigh.

Sir how much the m9? If you know the official price of this knife. ..please tell me & tnx 🔪🙏

i wanted to get one of these and then saw a disassemble video of it and saw that it had a tiny rat tail tang. Was so disappointed. Would be nice if they revamped this model and made it full tang with a sheath that had better mounting options. (Think Gerber Strongarm).

Superb review! That particular bayonet would fetch you a very nice sum from a collector if you wanted to sell it. Thank you for the thorough review and comparison with its predecessor the M7 as well as a comparison with its inspiration, the Soviet AKM bayonet. The M9 seems like a DoD special - the sort of "One Tool To Rule The All" mentality that also gave us the M14 rifle trying to replace a whole host of weapons. I think the US Marines use a different bayonet that they seem to like.

I looked for a Buck, but had to settle on the Phrobus III. I've had a Buckmaster since 1984 or 85.

I remember seeing these......and laughing at how big and heavy they were (with a rat tail tang and slim handle) Ended up running around with a Glock knife and a OKC3S with the EGA wrapped over with tape😂 Would have made more sense ordering them after the Marines got them designed

So. It's fair to say the bayonet is great, but the sheath is terrible. I've heard much criticism of this bayonet but never understood why.

I wish it was full tang. It’s cool it’s the knife in re2 and 4 remake.

I have one, Phrobis, for the collection but yeah, seems like it would be a PITA to carry...

The wire cutting lug on the sheath gets caught in camo nets so bad it will send you into a cursing fit when you are trying to put up the net over a M198 howitizer at night. I have just hacked the cursed net to bits getting free of it then spent hours in the motor pool patching that vile net Ha!!!

i want one for shtf

price ?

Any idea what the value is on these? I have the same one and looking to move it on.

Mate, SORD Australia do make a good MOLLE belt hanger with a leg strap for the M-9 bayonet.

188 is the Buck Model Number, Buck 184 was the Buckmaster, etc.

I will now make sure to buy the M7 bayonet after watching this video ! I think the M7 is a full length tang.

Model number i think after buck split from phrobis this is the designation the bayonet got

Why does it suspiciously have so many features of the AK bayonet ? Just observation .

Forgot the bottle cap opener.

If you still have it and don’t want it, I’d like to have it

It has its faults, but it beats the L3A1 for the British L85 rifle hands down,they look the part but are useless except for stabbing,I blunted the file on a leatherman trying to sharpen mine in Iraq.

We also hated the M9 for all the reasons you mentioned. I'll take an M7 over an M9 any day.

I have not met a Vet that liked that bayonet/m9 just to heavy and bulky cool looking though. lots of the the guys I know that we’re in Iraq,Afghanistan or both said they preferred the M7 if available of course they never used them as bayonets more of a GI fidget spinner lol

The only good thing about the M9 is that the Chinese copied it and issued it to their entire military. Sometimes it's not good to copy other people.

Junk for fighting but make a good camp knife

I was a SAW gunner for most of my enlistment, and they still had me carry one of these. What a pain in the ass.

I personally like the M7 more

I think you must be very happy with that M9. I have an M7 from Bauer ordnanse Corp with the P..W.H Scabbard..a tank of a Bayonet and i made i razor sharp. I am very thankfull to have my M7. But a real US M9 is a Dream for me..and they are not weak at all. I have had some replica's..i could not destroy them. In my country in Europe its very hard and expensive to get an M9. Be thankfull you have one.

Honest review, crap design for it's purpose.

It’s so obvious you hate it by the way you set up with a pose for the thumbnail and made an entire video talking about it , oh the hatred

I can't get transl😅to English

Best bayonet ever made, extremely useful and easy to use.

def .. M7 is better i think

It's like the obese child of the KCB-70/KCB-77 bayonet.

The m7 bayonet is a better combat knife. Full tang, stronger steel, better poking. The m9 is a bad knife, bad wire cutter, bad tool.....but it can do everything. Badly.