Pictures

(click to enlarge) Type Description Blade

Length Overall

Length Muzzle

Ring

Diameter Markings

in. mm. in. mm. in. mm.

M1808 Socket bayonet for use with the 17.78 mm. (.70 caliber) flintlock Model 1808 infantry musket. Russia patterned the Model 1808 musket after the French Model 1777 Charleville musket. The Model 1808 is often referred to as the “Tula Musket,” as Russia’s Tula Arsenal produced nearly all of them. Patterned after the French M1777 AN IX socket bayonet (AN IX represents Year 9 in the French Republican Calendar, denoting an improvement introduced in 1800), the Russian Model 1808 bayonet is unusual in having a medial locking ring on an unbridged socket. Russia adopted an improved bayonet in 1826–28 that included a bridge to prevent deformation of the socket. The unbridged socket dates this example to 1808–1825. There was no scabbard produced, the bayonet remaining fixed to the musket at all times. The Model 1808 was the standard Russian Army infantry musket and bayonet in the Napoleonic Wars, seeing extensive combat during Napoleon’s 1812 Invasion of Russia. In response to the invasion, Tula Arsenal produced 500,000 Model 1808 muskets 1812–15. The Invasion of Russia was the turning point in the Napoleonic Wars that ended Napoleon’s invincibility. The Battle of Borodino outside of Moscow was the deadliest single day of combat during the 12-years of Napoleonic War, resulting in over 70,000 casualties. Napoleon’s retreat from Moscow during the Russian winter destroyed what was left of his Army. While Napoleon would rebuild his army and campaign in central Europe in an attempt to regain power, these attempts failed culminating in his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo and forced exile to St. Helena in 1815. Model 1808 muskets and bayonets also likely accompanied Russian personnel who established Fort Ross, in 1812, along the northern California coast. Fort Ross was the only Russian outpost in what would later become the continental United States. 17.50 445 20.625 525 .880 22.3 Ricasso: cross mark, "19" and arrow mark

M1870 Socket bayonet used with the 10.75 mm. (.42 caliber) M1870 (Berdan II) infantry rifle. Patterned after the Swiss M1863 bayonet, the M1870 bayonet has a cruciform blade profile and the, now familiar, screwdriver point. This example is a M1870 infantry bayonet, with the socket cut so as to mount to a bayonet stud on the right side of the barrel. The M1870 dragoon bayonet was shorter, with the socket cut so as to mount to the front sight, which doubled as a bayonet stud. Developed by American General Hiram Berdan, the M1870 rifle and bayonet were produced in large numbers at the three major Russian arms factories (Tula, Izhevsk, and Sestroretsk). The M1870 served as the standard Russian rifle until it was superseded by the Mosin-Nagant M1891. Many Russian troops were still armed with the M1870 during the Russo-Japanese War of 1905. This example was made at the Sestroretsk Arms Factory, near St. Petersburg. The Sestroretsk factory was founded by Peter the Great in 1721. Russian arms designer, Sergey Ivanovich Mosin, ran the factory from 1894–1902. The arms-making machinery was removed in 1918 when the Russian Civil War began, out of concern that anti-communist White Army could seize it. 20.25 514 23.25 591 .700 17.8 Elbow (left): arrow (Sestroretsk trademark) and inspection marks Elbow (right): "7524"

M1891/30 Panshin Socket bayonet for use with the 7.62 mm. Mosin-Nagant M1891 Dragoon rifle. The Panshin is an early variant of the M1891/30 bayonet, intended for use by mounted cavalry. This example was made 1930–32 at the Tula Arsenal. Col. P.K. Panshin designed the sight hood to protect the front sight of rifles used by the cavalry. However, the government decided to make the sight hood standard on all M1891/30 rifles instead. As a result, few hooded bayonets were produced. Most had the hood removed during the Second World War, since the hooded bayonet would not mount to a hooded rifle. Examples with the hood intact are quite scarce today. 17.00 432 19.875 505 .590 15.0 Elbow (right): proofmark Elbow (left): star and proofmark Shoulder: "123713"

M1891/30 Socket bayonet for use with the 7.62 mm. M1891/30 Mosin-Nagant rifle. The M1891/30 was Soviet Russia's standard service rifle during the Second World War. The M1891/30 bayonet has a press stud to secure the bayonet in place, rather than the locking ring of the M1891. This example is typical of crude wartime production, with heavy tool marks. 16.875 429 19.75 502 .580 14.7 None.

M1891/30 This example has been refurbished, as evidenced by the square with diagonal slash refurb mark. Many of the wartime tool marks were cleaned up during the refurbishment process. 17.00 432 19.812 503 .585 14.9 Elbow: "13657" and refurb mark

M1940 Knife bayonet for use with the 7.62 mm. Tokarev SVT–40 self-loading rifle that saw limited use during the Second World War. This was the first Russian knife bayonet and its influence is evident in the later SKS and AK47 bayonets. The M1940 bayonet is unique in having a sheath surrounding the press stud to prevent the fixed bayonet from being inadvertently detached. This proved a solution to a non-existent problem and was dropped from future Russian designs. This example has gone through arsenal overhaul, as evidenced by the rich deep blued finish.



The scabbard is of the second type, with the flattened tip, rather than a ball tip. The scabbard has a pigskin leather belt hanger.

9.50 241 14.00 356 .555 14.1 Ricasso: various partial inspection marks



Grip (Left): 4144

M1944 Folding bayonet permanently attached to the 7.62 mm. Mosin-Nagant M1944 rifle. The bayonet folds to the right side and stows in a cutout in the rifle's forestock. 12.25 311 15.25 387 .555 14.1 None.

SKS-45 Knife bayonet permanently attached to the 7.62 mm. Simonov SKS–45 self-loading rifle. This example was made in 1951 at Tula Arsenal. The blade folds underneath and stows in a cutout area in the rifle's forestock. 9.50 241 12.00 305 .550 14.0 None.

6X3 (AKM Type I) Knife bayonet for use with the 7.62 mm. Kalashnikov AKM assault rifle. They were produced from 1960–64 at the Izhevsk and Tula Arsenals. Orange plastic grip. Black steel Type I scabbard has a black rubber insulator for cutting electrified wire. Brown, pebble-grain leather belt hanger and tan web retention strap. The belt hanger measures 3.75 in. (95 mm.) in length. AK Bayonets Page 5.75 146 11.00 279 .695 17.7 Crosspiece (left): "9130" Crosspiece (right): "11" inside an oval and an diamond (inspection marks Muzzle Ring: inspection marks Guide Lug: triangle (Izhevsk mark) Scabbard (body): "9130"

AKM Type I Transitional Knife bayonet for use with the 7.62 mm. Kalashnikov AKM assault rifle. This AKM variant represents a transition between the AKM Type I and Type II bayonets, mating the Type I bayonet with the Type II scabbard. Only Russia and East Germany did so. The brown smooth leather belt hanger measures 3.75 in. (95 mm.) in length. This example has been reworked, as evidenced by the multiple electropenciled serial numbers. This example was acquired overseas by a U.S. Marine during the Persian Gulf War period (early-mid 1990s). AK Bayonets Page 5.75 146 10.875 276 .695 17.7 Crosspiece (left): "9792" Crosspiece (right): "11" inside an oval and "OB" in a diamond (inspection marks) Guide Lug: triangle (Izhevsk mark) Scabbard (body): "5350" (lined out) and Arrow inside triangle Scabbard (anvil): "5079"

6X4 (AKM Type II) Knife bayonet for use with the Kalashnikov 7.62 mm. AKM and 5.45 mm. AK74 assault rifles. Orange plastic grip. The Type II scabbard has an orange plastic body. The brightly-colored plastic is often referred to as bakelite, although it is a modern polymer. The brown pebble-grained leather belt hanger and tan web retention strap are similar to those used on the 6X3 bayonet. Although the maker mark has worn away, the "2/2" mold mark identifies it as having been made at the Izhevsk Arsenal, Izhevsk, Russia. The Tula arsenal used a hyphen in their mold mark. The 6X4 bayonet was produced from 1965–86. This example is of the first pattern, made 1965–71, in which the crosspiece and pommel are milled forgings. This example was brought back from the first Gulf War, Afghanistan, or some other foreign hotspot prior to the U.S. invasion of Iraq. The bayonet and scabbard had fine sand/silt in all of its nooks and crannies. A portion of the belt loop is missing, as if the bayonet had been yanked off of it's former owner's belt. The partial belt hanger measures 3.875 in. (98 mm.) in length. The seller I obtained it from indicated that he had purchased it in 2002 from a shop in VA, which he described as being a place "known to do a lot of business with SEALS from Little Creek." He indicated that "he had seen fellas getting out of service bring duffel bags full of 'neat stuff' by there to unload for a few bucks prior to separation" (he had no reason to embellish the story, as his asking price was a fraction of what this bayonet would have brought at auction). AK Bayonets Page



5.75 146 10.625 270 .695 17.7 Crosspiece (right): inspection marks Crosspiece (left): "847" Grip (right): "2/2" Pommel: "769" Scabbard Body: Arrow inside triangle (Izhevsk mark) and "80" and "089"

Reworked 6X4 (AKM Type II) This AKM Type II example has been reworked, showing evidence of little use since reworking. The plastic and painted parts are coated in a clear lacquer. The blade was still in the packing grease when I obtained it. The bayonet was made at the Izhevsk Arsenal, while the scabbard was made at the Tula Arsenal. This example is of the second pattern, made 1972–82, in which the crosspiece and pommel are castings. The tan smooth leather belt hanger measures 3.75 in. (95 mm.) in length. This example was acquired overseas by a U.S. Marine during the Persian Gulf War period (early-mid 1990s), along with the AKM Type I Transitional bayonet above. AK Bayonets Page 5.75 146 10.75 273 .695 17.7 Grip (right): "9/2" and arrow inside triangle (Izhevsk mark) Grip (left): "1903" Scabbard Body: star (Tula mark) and "16", and "1444"

6X4 (AKM Type II) Simplified Pommel This AKM Type II example is of the third pattern, introduced ca. 1983, in which the pommel casting was changed to simplify production. This was the final 6X4 production variant which was superseded by the 6X5 in 1986. This variant was only made at Ishevsk. Collectors sometimes refer to this variant as having a "lightened" pommel. However, the change was made to simplify machining of the pommel, not to reduce weight. The brown pebble-grain leather belt hanger measures 3.75 in. (95 mm.) in length. AK Bayonets Page



5.75 146 10.75 273 .695 17.7 Grip (right): "5/2" and arrow inside triangle (Izhevsk mark) and inked "M" inside rectangle Grip (left): "902" Pommel (left) "2-6" Scabbard Body: arrow inside triangle (Izhevsk mark) and "706" "51" (mold mark) and inked "OTK 2"

6X5 (AK74) Knife bayonet for use with the 5.45 mm. Kalashnikov AK74 assault rifle. This bayonet will also mount to the 7.62 mm. AKM assault rifle. 6X5 production began in 1986 and continues to the present day. The 6X5 bayonet is currently in first-line service with the the Russian Army. Early production differed slightly from this example, which was introduced in 1988. Spear-point blade with a unique cross-section. Black molded polymer grip. Black plastic scabbard has the typical AKM pattern clip-on belt hanger made of black pebble-grain leather. The belt hanger measures 3.75 in. (95 mm.) long. Under bright light, the grip and scabbard of this example have a purple (or plum) hue. This dark brown polymer was used 1986–91, when Ishevsk began using a true black polymer. AK Bayonets Page 6.25 159 11.375 289 .695 17.7 Ricasso (left):"OTK" very feint Ricasso (right): Acceptance mark (inside a rectangle) Pommel: "8-1: Scabbard (body): "5-1" (mold no.) and inspection mark (silver paint) Belt Hanger: "5" inside a circle