Parts
of a Bayonet
AK
Bayonet Frogs & Straps
Custom Replicas
Built by Krklek
This
is aimed to a novice collector in the bayonet collecting hobby. This
article should help you to identify the major parts of a bayonet
with basic terms identifying the major components at a basic level.
A
bayonet can be seperated into four main areas for ease of explanation:
- The
Hilt
- The
Crossguard
- The
Blade
- The
Scabbord
The Hilt
The
Hilt comprises a number of components. Not all components are present
on every bayonet.
- Brass
Rivet
- Oiling
Hole
- Wood
Grips
- Pommel
- Press
Stud
Grips
These can be found manufactured from a variety of materials, including;
- Leather
- Wood
- this is probably the most common of the materials you will find
in use from the earliest days of plug bayonets.
- Metal
- Various metals can be found used in grip manufacture. Brass in
use from the early sword bayonets of 1800 through to World War
1, White Metal,
- Sheet
Steel - a common material for WW1 German Bayonets
- Plastics
- commonplace on newer bayonets.
- Bakeolite
- an older composition grip which has the appearance of plastic.
As you become more familiar with bayonets the differences will
be easy to spot
- Other
materials will be encountered
Pommel
This is the part of the bayonet which normally contains
the locking mechanism to attach the bayonet to the rifle
Press
Stud
This operates a sprung catch which connects with
a bar located on the rifle to secure the bayonet. Press Studs can take
different forms to that shown and be located away from the Pommel,
an example being that of the French M1886 Lebel which has the press
stud located immediately behind the Crossguard.
Another method of securing the bayonet to the rifle is by way of
a leaf spring. These will be encountered on 19th Century sword bayonets. Socket
bayonets have neither press stud nor leaf spring and are secured by means of
a angled slot.
The Crossguard
The
Crossguard comprises the muzzle ring and quillon. Not all bayonets
will have a quillon, and not all bayonets will have a full muzzle
ring as shown.
- Muzzle
Ring
- Quillon
Muzzle
Ring
The muzzle ring, as its name implies, fits over the rifle barrel.
In the picture shown, a full muzzle ring is shown. In the case of certain bayonets,
the German K98 for example, muzzle rings are not present, and it is possible
to find bayonets, particularly German, where conversions of bayonets have resulted
in muzzle rings being removed in order that the bayonet can fit a later model
rifle.
Quillon
This will not be present on all bayonets. Quillons can take
many forms, being swept forward, as in the case of the French Mle 1866, or swept
back as in the case of the German S98/05.
The Blade
Blades
can take many forms, being straight, yataghan , double edged, false
edged, fullered, etc etc.. For the moment we will confine ourselves
to identifying the main parts of the bayonet blade below which is
from the British P1888 used in the previous illustrations.
- Point
- Edge
- Ricasso
The
example above shows a "double edged" blade. This means
that there is a blade edge along both sides of the blade, unlike
most knife & sword bayonets where the edge runs the full length
of one side of the blade only. In the example above, to provide strength
to the blade, the blade is "thicker" in the centre than
the edges giving the blade an almost diamond shape in cross-section.
Ricasso
This is the part of the
bayonet which normally displays most information
about a bayonet. Here you may well find the
makers name stamped, date of manufacture, issue
dates & inspection stamps all of which
are invaluable in identifying an unknown model.
The Scabbard
Scabbards
can be found in a variety of materials, however you will most commonly
encounter those manufactured from leather with metal fittings, or
else all metal. The example shown below, for uniformity,is the scabbard
from a British P1888 Bayonet.
- Chape
- Body
- Topmount
(or locket)
- Frog
Stud
- Throat
(or mouthpiece)
Kalashnikov Bayonet Scabbard
Variations
Chapter
One, cont.
The three scabbard variations
have been classified as follows:
AK47 Type -
straight steel scabbard with webbing belt loop permanently attached
via metal loops welded to the scabbard. (See figure 2.A.)
AKM/AK74 Steel
Type — steel scabbard with a wire-cutter attachment
riveted to the
lower end, a rubber insulator installed around it at the throat and a belt
loop attached to a welded ring via a snap hook or a frog type belt loop. (See
figure 2.B.)
AKM / AK74 Plastic
Type — plastic scabbard usually with wire-cutter attachment
molded in to the lower end; and usually, a belt loop attached to
a molded in bar via a snap hook. (See figure 2.C.)
As with the knives, the
Valmet, CZ58 and Type 81 types will be discussed in the appropriate
chapters.
Another type-classification term used in this book is AKM
Type I transitional bayonet.
This is used to refer to the combination of an AKM Type I knife and an AKM/AK74
Plastic Type scabbard.
From Page 4 Kalashnikov
Bayonets
© 2002 by Martin Ivie
Reprinted with permission of the author
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