Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/958224
Handle is from Itamid 253 polyamide reinforce with glass fibers, and is similar to that from Extrema Ratio ones. It has a little texture with pits in front that cooperates with scabbard closure. At the end of the handle is a metal part used for fixing a bayonet on rifle with loop for dummy cord. Polymer used for handle is the same used for scabbard and GROT lower receivers. At first glance the bayonet looks as full tang as it has no physical connection between blade with a tang inside a handle and a metal part at the end of the handle. It is that because of requirement of cutting electrical wires. What is interesting, every single knife is tested on electrical isolation capabilities. Two-part scabbard is made of Itamid 253. It has MOLLE/PALS attachment and nylon webbing frog to secure the bayonet. Outer part of scabbard is meant to be mounted to the gear and internal part is meant to storage the bayonet and to create bolt cutters with it. For that purpose it has been equipped with steel, screwed in and replaceable part on the end with hook alike blade and a pivot to interlock with a bayonet and also screwed a pin limiting the move of so-called bolt cutters. In the lower part is a hole allowing water to flow out of the inside. Both parts of scabbard are connected by force and locked with a latch on top. Bayonet is fixed to the rifle with a latch at the end of the handle that locks on the lug under the barrel and small hook on the dace that locks on the flash hider edge, but it doesn't block the barrel and it allows shooting. EARLY EVALUATION Bayonet for MSBS/GROT rifle when compared to 6H4 is quality leap. Finally, soldier is issued a knife-bayonet and not bayonet- knife (order of words is a key here), which can be used for more things than just stabbing an enemy. Generally, it is a quite good field knife which can be sharpened and which holds that sharpness quite well. Handle is comfortable, it fits well in hand, but texture makes grip not so stable. It's quite slick, texture is very tiny and even in dry hand the bayonet can be turned in closed hand just by catching the blade with other hand and turning it. That can't be blocked with a grip on handle. In accordance to that it might be considered to: • Change the handle's to more rubbery one. USMC OKC3S can't be turned as described above thanks to the resistance made by plastic used for its handle. Of course such change is quite difficult and costly from technological point of view. • Changing texture to more aggressive. I have checked on M9 bayonet and similar as in OKC3S, it can be blocked with tight grip on handle. This is easier from technological point of view, but it would require changing the forms. To be honest, there could be someone to make stippling but it is issued stuff, so better don't... Grip enhancement could be useful mostly because the knife has a tiny dace with a hook pointed in the user's fingers. While more powerful thrusting hand might happen to slide forward and hit that hook which could be quite painful. Although the shape of the handle and the thumb ramp should prevent that but it might be too little in extreme situations. Blade is nice but placing serrations on it is a total misunderstanding in my opinion. They are also badly profiled. Yes, OKC3S has serrations, but with different profile and moreover designed that you can start cutting with them and continue with plain cutting edge. You can't do that with this bayonet because serrations are about 3mm lower than a cutting edge of the blade so there is only 40 mm for cutting. What is more, there is a ledge at the beginning (God knows why) which is going to be broken during work. Combo blade in the field knife gives nothing, it even limits its capabilities and makes sharpening not so easy. Much more useful would be just plain cutting edge, but… there is a hope that after some field evaluations, the serrations will be gone. Bolt cutters. Haven't tested them because bayonet isn't mine and I don't want to damage it. If there will be a possibility of cutting wires, I will do so and write about it. Scabbard. Nice, innovative solution of turning into bolt cutters. It holds bayonet securely, it's lightweight (189 grams compared to 227 grams of 6H4 scabbard, bayonets weights 201 grams compared to 318 grams). And it's easy to use. Knife goes in smoothly, sits well and drawing it is simple and intuitive. Taking out internal part of the scabbard requires some strength, but it is what it is meant to be. It won't fall out by itself. It can be done without a bayonet inside, but with it is easier to use it as a lever. www.fragoutmag.com