Silver Bayonet Kilt Pins - Good Idea?

[Good Egg]

A chum of mine who sells Pipes and Highland wear etc asked me what I thought of the idea of Silver Kilts Pins in the pattern of service bayonets.

He was thinking SLR and SA80 (the previous and current UK rifles) for sale to UK vets. I wondered if anyone thinks this would work with say an M16 bayonet.

Couple of points for discussion for anyone who thinks it might work: What size should it be? With or without scabbard? How much should it cost?

BTB I'd be interested in negative comments as well as positive. As you can imagine there are start up costs for this sort of thing and I don't want to go back to my pal and say its a great idea to find that nobody in the world is interested.

[PiobBear]

I should think that M7 and M9 bayonet kilt pins (no scabbard) would be quite marketable among American infantry. I'd make them about 4" long; same as most sword kilt pins.

[Finn]

Well, the bayonet doesn't see much use in the US forces. The infantry battalion I served with saw them as useless kit. They were issued, but rarely used except as tools to be abused.
A "classic" Garand bayonet may work better. No sheath.
No offense, but I don't think I would get one.

[Good Egg]

No offence taken at all - if I see what I think is a bad idea I say so. I'm interested in hearing what people think, not what they think I might want to hear.

I'm interested in what you say about bayonets in general. In the British Army it is the symbol of the infantry and infantry skills. Although little used as you say.

[Finn]

The bayonet has had the same symbolism here.
Perhaps the USMC has a different view, as may other infantry units. I was only relaying my personal experience. My initial training was for Military Police and I did not receive bayonet training. In fact, I wasn't issued one until I was a medic in the infantry and then rarely.

[billmcc]

It might be a modest seller in the US if made of pewter and priced at around $25.00 (US dollars). However, I don't think it will sell well if made of silver, due to the higher cost.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Rather than bayonets, go with the rifle. That's the REAL symbol of an Infantryman (that and a pair of worn out boots!)

[Richland]

Well the M-9 bayonet has seen a renewed use as a great search tool, on the end of the M-4 you can use it to pop open cabinets and storage areas when searching Iraqi and Afgani homes etc. without exposing yourself to booby traps etc. The Army has an award device called the Combat Action Badge (CAB) similar to the CIB which has an M-9 as the central piece. That being said:
I believe it is most unattractive and not the best design though,
So the M-7 would look better.
Better Yet:
I belive the K-Bar would be a great kilt pin
the Fairbairn Sykes Fighting Knife would look great too

[BEEDEE]

Back in New Zealand I trained on the SLR (FN-FAL). The only time we used a bayonet was in ceremonial parades for the color guard.

That said, the bayonet, to me, is a traditional symbol of the infantry so I would be proud to wear one as a kilt pin. After all, how many sword kilt pins are sold now? Thousands?

As to size and cost - my sword kilt pin is 3 1/2 inches long. I would be happy to pay in the range of $20 - 30 for a bayonet pin. Don't overlook the fact that the Kiwis, Australians, Israelis, many South American and other Commonwealth nations used the SLR, so the market might be bigger than you think.



Brian

[James MacMillan]

I think it's a great idea, and I would buy a kaybar, and bayonets, both WWI and current era..... and the Fairbairn Sykes too. Any thing that tends to bring the kilt more into the modern age works for me!!!

If he makes them, I will buy them! I really, really like that idea!

In fact, I may go to my personal jeweller and see what he says!