Samples
from Kalashnikov
Bayonets
© 2002 by Martin Ivie
Reprinted with permission of the author
Kalashnikov
Bayonets
An
introduction
The
AK47 and its variants as a group is
one of the most prolific combat small
arms of the 20th Century. As with most
other combat small arms of historical
significance, an interest in collecting
AK variants and their accessories and
accoutrements has developed. One of
the main accessories for any combat
rifle is the bayonet. This work is
intended to aid both the novice and
the advanced collector in identifying
the various AK bayonet types and their
countries of origin... Click
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Kalashnikov
Bayonet Types
Chapter
One
There
are four basic knife types found
for AK bayonets plus some variations,
which do not fall in these categories.
There are also three basic scabbard
types. Combinations of these
types are what allow for identification
of the country of origin for
these bayonets and the type of
AK they were originally used
with... Click
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Kalashnikov
Bayonet Scabbard Variations
Chapter One, cont.
AK47
Milled Receiver Bayonets
Chapter
Two
This
chapter covers the bayonets used on the
AK47 type milled receiver rifles. Presented
are representative bayonets from Russia,
Bulgaria, East Germany, Poland, North
Korea and China. Also shown is a bayonet
currently marketed in the U.S. as being
of Romanian origin...Click
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Russian
AK47 Bayonets
Chapter
Two, cont.
It
is very difficult to tell the
difference between Russian and
Bulgarian AK47 bayonets... Click
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Bulgarian
AK47 Bayonets
Chapter
Two, cont.
The
Bulgarians produced an AK47 type
bayonet almost identical to the
Russian version.. The knife is
essentially identical to the early
Russian version except it does
not have a factory code mark and
the serial number runs perpendicular
to the axis line of the bayonet
and is machine engraved approximately
centered in the pommel (see Figure
8). The scales also appear to be
redder in color than those on the
Russian knife and have less of
a mottled appearance.... Click
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East German AK47 Bayonets
Chapter
Two, cont.
The
East German variation of the AK47
type bayonet is unique in that the
scales on the handle of the knife
are black plastic rather than some
variation of red, reddish brown or
brown plastic as found on those from
other countries. When serial numbers
are present they are pen engraved
on the left side of the crosspiece.
The East Germans designated this
bayonet the “Modell 47”.... Click
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Polish AK47 Bayonets
Chapter
Two, cont.
The
unique scabbard most easily identifies
the Polish AK47 bayonet shown in
Figure 16. The scabbard has none
of the flat stamps and welds near
the point like the other AK47 bayonet
scabbards shown thus far. There
are no hanger attachment bands
as seen on the previous scabbards.
Instead, there is a small flat
piece of metal welded to the back
of the scabbard, which holds two
very narrow (10 mm wide) thin wire
loops in place.... Click
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North Korean AK47 Bayonets
Chapter
Two, cont.
The
North Korean AK47 bayonets (see Figure
18) are the most crudely made of
the AK47 bayonets, especially from
the swhitedpoint of the scabbard. The
knife itself is very typical of the
other AK47 bayonets described earlier
in this chapter. Like many of them
the metal parts that compose the
hilt are blued. The scales are bright
red plastic material. The knife has
a stamped seriaL number on the left
side of the pommel, which runs at
a 45° similar to that on the
Russian bayonets, but does not
follow the curve of the pommel
like those on the Russian bayonets.
There is the remnant of a North
Korean star in a circle factory
code mark on the lower right hand
corner of the left side of the
crosspiece (see Figure 19)... Click
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Chinese AK47 Bayonets
Chapter
Two, cont.
The
examples of Chinese AK47 bayonets
shown in Figures 23 and 24 were
both made and sold as U.S. import
items. Both knives feature blued
steel metal for the parts of the
hilts. The scales on both are Chinese
Chu wood with those on the knife
in Figure 23 being stained dark
brown to match the furniture on
the Polytech Legend AK47 that the
bayonet came with and those on
the knife in Figure 24 stained
orange brown. The bayonet in Figure
24 is a separate import item made
for the U.S. collectors market.... Click
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