AK47, Derivatives and Related Bayonets .
last updated 26/05/03
Afghanistan, Angola, Bulgaria, China, Columbia, Croatia Cuba, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Egypt, Finland, Germany, Grenada, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Lithuania, Korea (North), Panama, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, South Africa, Somalia, Vietnam, Yugoslavia, Zimbabwe
Note:- click on image for larger version of images
If you can add any additional information or correct any errors on my part please
For consistency I've used the following designations for the main bayonet types, these are not necessarily the country designation (I'll add these as I find them) but will give a consistent identifier for each different type. I would like to than Brian for his help on this
Type 56 Fixed folding spike used by China
AK47 Type Spear point blade, with ears to go around barrel, instead of a slot for attachment
AKM Type 1 Has a bowie blade with wire cutting facility, and a more normal curved hilt. Scabbard is metal with or without a rubber insulator
AKM Type 2 Also early AK74, Heavy square hilt, with wire cutter and sawback. Scabbard the same as for the Type 1
AKM Training has a sprung loaded plunger instead of a blade
AK74 New pattern with double edged spear point blade, sawback and wire cutter. Hilt is fully resin with no tang visible
KM 87 East German version made in very limited numbers with tool kit in handle.
T81 Chinese variation with double fullered spear point blade, no saw no wire cutter
Some countries have variations to this and it is noted below.
Many thanks to Bill Porter for filling in a lot of missing information ( writing in white)
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AFGHANISTAN
Recent pictures show the Taliban and others using AKM type 2 blades, it is assumed that these are all Soviet issue blades. Also reported are early AK47 and AKM type 1 blades coming out of Afghanistan. A report has been received that the UK bought AK47's and bayonets for delivery to Afghanistan, this is being investigated
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ANGOLA
Would assume that they used Cuban supplied blades due to the use of Cuban "trainers"", confirmation would be appreciated
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BULGARIA
AK47 Has maroon resin hilt and single metal bands attaching the hanger to the scabbard (this distinguishes it from the Russian model which has this band split into two fingers. Web frog, this is a copy of the late model Russian scabbard. Bill Porter has reported that they have a Black matte finish on scabbard and hilt, and oval scabbard , this calls into question the identification of my blade.
AK47
AKM Type 1 (no example)
AKM Type 2 (no example)
AK74 Scabbards and grips marked with a 10 inside 2 concentric circles, black resin.
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AK47 model,
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AK47 model, with black grips and large washers on grip screws
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1990 pattern bayonet for the AK74 (NEW)
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CHINA
Type 56 there are two variants of this fixed folding bayonet, both are shorter than the SKS.
AK47 Type bayonets have wooden grips, and as far as I can tell are the only ones with such grips The wooden hilted versions are commercial blades not issue.
AKM Type 2 bayonets do not have either the the saw back or the wire cutter attachments, and come in orange or black bakelite for grips and scabbards There is reportedly a wire cutter version available This has now been confirmed, these blades were issued with weapons sold in the USA.
Type 81 bayonets come in two variations, one for the current AK variant (no example) and one modified to fit the US M1 carbine, that they make
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Commercially produced AK47 bayonet, with red wood grips
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AKM type 2 Black
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AKM type 2 Orange
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The mythical green AK, it takes bright sunlight just to show the item is green, in most light it looks black, it needs glancing bright sunlight to raise the green cast. Side by side with a black in room light it looks the same |
 
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AK bayonet collecting is often about minutia, in this case the hilt is held with a brass rivet |
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Norinco made AKM provided with SVD copies in the USA, these are commercial rather than military blades, but made by the same factories
The pommel is slightly different to the Russian models
The colour of the Chinese bayonets is distinctive, with a semi matt finish
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T81
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T81 modified to fit US M1 Carbine
T81 and T81 mod (left) showing added plate on pommel to mount on M1
modified (left) reduced diameter muzzle ring
modified (front) deeper muzzle ring
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COLUMBIA
The one example I have is an AKM type I
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East German made AKM type I taken from rebels in Colombia
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CROATIA
Various AKM types both Yugoslavian manufactured and apparently supplied by Egypt
It would appear that a large number of military items from Croatia have come onto the market with the significant down sizing the military is experiencing in these areas
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An Egyptian supplied AKM, this version does not have the chocolate brown grips of the more normal Egyptian model, but is distinguishable by the brown "rivet" holding the grips in place
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An Egyptian supplied AKM, this version does have the chocolate brown grips of the normal Egyptian model, but does not have any markings on either the blade or the scabbard. It shows a lot poorer manufacturing quality than the Eastern Block examples or the normal Yugoslavian made models. It is though that the Egyptians may have supplied bayonets to the Muslim sides in the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia but at the moment this is just conjecture
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Yugoslavian made AKM
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CUBA
Use bayonet supplied by Eastern European sources, no details. Bayonets were supplied by North Korea and they used the NK AKM bayonet with the frog material changed to a tan colour, rather that the dark green NK finish. These blades were also supplied to Grenada and Panama, and many were brought back from there after the US "invasion"
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AKM bayonet
Tan frog of Cuban model, basic blade is the north Korean AKM the only modification is the frog
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CZECHOSLOVAKIA
Use their own bayonet for the AK type weapons, which although superficially similar is a different weapon. It comes with 3 distinct types,
First model has a fully enclosed tang under the resin hilt (the very first models had wooden grips) and can be found with short or long cross guard (no example).
Second model has the tang extended beyond the hilt
Scabbard is stitched leather, although a "plastic" NBC proof scabbard has been seen (no example)
AK Training uses a sprung loaded plunger like the East German one but with a VZ24 style hilt to allow fitting to a rifle. (no example)
There is also a plated presentation model with a specially made wooden stand
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Early VZ58 with wooden rather than composite grips
Short tang with dark wood grips
heavily parkerised blade and wooden grips, in near mint condition
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Another short tang early version with light wood grips and 1968 dated scabbard
courtesy of Pavel Kuci in Czechoslovakia
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1958 bayonet with short tang and full grips
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M1958 long tang
"Blind" rivets on long tang 58
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Presentation VZ58 with complete lack of fixings to mount on Rifle, complete with stand
Wooded grips are special to this piece as the long tang and pointed crossguard indicate a late model bayonet was used as a basis for this piece
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There are no markings on the bayonet at all
added 8/11/02
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M1958 in early (top) and late NBC scabbard (Photos courtesy pf Bill Porter)
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EAST GERMAN
AK47 Type, Scabbard has the metal frog attachment split into two tangs around the scabbard, the hilts are black bakelite Web frog There Are variations in the size and type of scabbard rivets, and shape of spring catch.
AKM Type 1 Steel scabbard with rubber insulator and ribbed plastic.
AKM Type 2 Comes in black and orange bakelite Note that these have much longer frogs than other versions
KM87 a special limited (2500) made bayonet, having a hollow hilt containing a "survival" kit. (no example)
AK Training, use a sprung loaded plunger, the "bayonet" fitting onto a special training rifle and not the standard weapon
AKM Training has a tubular section "blade" like the Polish version (no example) Black and Red rubber grips
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AK47
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Sprung loaded training bayonet for mounting on a dummy rifle
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Three variations on scabbards on East German AK47 (courtesy of Dave Holley)
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AKM type 1 with early steel scabbard - Many thanks to Peter for his kind donation
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AKM type 1 scabbard
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AKM 2nd Pattern (identified by Brian)
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Late pattern AKM bayonet with red grips instead of the more common black grips
Matching numbers on blade and scabbard
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Late model AKM type II with very pale orange grips
Grips and scabbard have matching electric pencil serial inscriptions
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KM87 Special forces bayonet manufactured just prior to the re unification of the Germany. Only 5000 of these were made and I believe none were issued to troops. For more pictures on this see KM87
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EGYPT
AKM type 1 Reported
AKM Type 2 bayonet has glossy black scabbard with grey rubber insulator. Chocolate brown grips with tan leather hanger and olive green wrist strap Blades are marked with Egyptian arsenal marks. In 2206 a group of blades out of the former Yugoslavia became available amongst these were unmarked black bayonets made by Egypt and thought to have been supplied to Muslim units in the wars in this area after the breakup of the republic. see Croatia
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AKM type II made by the MAADI factory in Egypt showing the distinctive chocolate brown grips
Matching numbers and milk chocolate grips
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An Egyptian supplied AKM to Croatia, this version does not have the chocolate brown grips of the more normal Egyptian model, but is distinguishable by the brown "rivet" holding the grips in place
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An Egyptian supplied AKM to Croatia, this version does have the chocolate brown grips of the normal Egyptian model, but does not have any markings on either the blade or the scabbard. It shows a lot poorer manufacturing quality than the Eastern Block examples or the normal Yugoslavian made models. It is though that the Egyptians may have supplied bayonets to the Muslim sides in the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia but at the moment this is just conjecture
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Hilt has a distinct blue color under daylight lighting conditions |
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GERMANY
G36 is a modified East German AKM Type 2 modified to fit on the West German G36 weapon, with modified frog and enlarged muzzle ring and hilt modifications.
Eickhorn made a version of the KCM series to be used on the AKM weapon.
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G36 a AKM bayonet modified for use with the G36 rifle (NEW)
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GRENADA
Use Cuban supplied blades, i.e. North Korean type with tan frogs.
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HUNGARY
AK47 Web frog. (no example)
AKM Type 1 Light tan insulator
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Commemorative from Afghanistan |
   
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Another commemerative |
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Pommel modified for indeterminate usage (courtesy of Dave Holley)
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Hungary AKM First Pattern (identified by Brian
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INDIA
INSAS bayonet, essentially a AKM Type 2 made to fit the locally produced INSAS 5.56 rifle a hybrid AK/FN rifle
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INSAS , of note is the very poor finish of this blade compared to western standards (and even the normal Eastern block finish)
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I have been provided pictures of the frog for the INSAS bayonet, it is the perspective of the picture that makes the blade look longer than my example above
Pictures courtesy of Karlos S
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INDONESIA
INSAS bayonet, essentially a AKM Type 2 made to fit the locally produced INSAS 5.56 rifle a hybrid AK/FN rifle
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Bayonet for the AK47, similar to all the others bar the checkered black grips, and it is much rougher made.
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IRAQ
Use imported bayonets with modified frog
AKM blades were manufactured in small numbers using equipment bought from Yugoslavia, red orange colour, with block numbers moulded into the grip and scabbard.. These are made to a higher quality than the USSR made blades.
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Iraqi made AKM bayonet, supposedly made on equipment bought from Yugoslavia, the earlier version had a blade without the saw back (like the Polish models)
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New contract AK74 bayonet for the post Saddam Iraqi army, 40,000 were ordered from Bulgaria with a distinctive black web hanger. This is one of the excess blades bought from Bulgaria, so not strictly Iraqi, but placed here as that is who the contract is for.
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Late production East German AK47 with Silver grey nylon web frog. Bayonet is reputedly a Kuwait pick up and came with an Iraqi ammunition pouch
Vibro Etched number on crossguard, and scabbard details
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Polish manufactured bayonet with added web hanger, this was collected by UK soldier in Desert storm
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Another Vet bring back Iraqi used AKM type I, it has remains of white painted serial on the handle. Many of these are missing the rubber scabbard insulator, the significance of this is unknown
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Interesting Frog found on an Iraq bring back, it "appears to be a very well done home-made or in country (Iraq) shop made reproduction of the original Romanian leather hanger. Note the buttons are brass. The leather is more supple and a bit thinner than the original Romanian. Also, the belt loop area is wider."
My thanks to David (mehoe67) for his permission to use his original post from the Gunboards Forum
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LEBANON
DO not manufacture the bayonets but use examples supplied from various East European countries. There are no markings on them that signify that these come from the Lebanon and you need providence to show where they came from. These were given to me by a soldier posted there doing UN duty.
AKM Type 1
AKM Type 2
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AKM type 1 used by Christian Militia probably supplied by Rumania (identified by Brian)
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AKM type 2 used by Christian militia, probably supplied by Poland (identified by Brian)
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LIBYA
Do not manufacture the bayonets but use examples supplied from various East European countries no details
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LITHUANIA
Use Russian AKM's with their own distinctive frogs
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Lithuanian for the AK47 bayonets, there are two different models a leather and a web and they attach to the gear differently, is one dress and one service?
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NORTH KOREA
AK47 standard blade with the scabbard made from a piece of wrapped sheet steel spot welded down the side. Pommel has a star in a circle proof mark on the pommel. The version I have has wooden grips but the normal blade has resin
AKM Distinctive pattern only used by North Korea, looks like the original AK47 bayonet with a bowie blade, and uses the later AKM mounting rather than the early AK47 ears around the barrel. No wire cutter. This blade was supplied to Cuba with a frog modification and via them to other Cuban supported countries or used by Cubans in those countries, those known include, Zimbabwe, Panama, and Grenada.
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AK47 with wood grips
Wooden grips on AK47
K", "U", "M" the three letters are written below the serial number with the K and U over the M to make a word or a syllable of a word this could be an abbreviation of kumsa or kumsaja,
Thanks to Martin Ivie for the identification
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North Korean Star markings on wooden gripped AKM
AKM note distinctive blade shape, and press stud at rear for attaching to rifle
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PANAMA
Cuban supplied AKM bayonets were in use in Panama at the time of military action by the US
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Cuban AKM used by Panamanian troops
Tan frog (as opposed to original North Korean Green) There are no markings to indicate country of use. Providence is from seller.
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POLAND
The following information was provided by a visitor (Adam Lubas) to my site, my thanks to him for the information
"the first Polish AK47 bayos were made in 1957 (less than a 100 were made that year). They are marked differently than the subsequent production, the date "1957" and Radom Arsenal "11" in oval are stamped on the same side of the handle (crossguard). One example is known to me (ser. # A 000006). Last production year seen by me is 1974 (bulk of the total was made in 1958, the ones dated 1970 and 1974 are scarce).
In 1995 "Lucznik" (ex Radom Factory) produced a small number of commemorative AKM bayos for 75th anniv. of the factory. They are non functional, have a commemorative cartouche on the blade and chromed scabbard"
AK47 Type, Scabbard has the metal frog attachment split into two tangs around the scabbard, the hilts are maroon bakelite (no example) Leather hanger. 11 in a circle on the crossguard.
AKM Type 1 (no example)
AKM Type 2
AKM Training has a rectangular section "blade" (no example)
AKM Export, a version of the AKM without the wire cutter attachment on the bottom of the steel scabbard, leaving a square bottomed scabbard (no example)
1998 Two new bayonets began trials with Polish Army, see the above site for details and pictures
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AK47
Circled 11 is the mark for the RADOM factory
1958 date is second year of production
Grips are mottled unlike Russian and German models
Leather Frog obverse
Leather frog front
added 6-3-04
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AKM type 2
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AKM early pattern no sawback and with a mottled red/black grip not the more normal orange of the Polish blades
Grey rather than black scabbard, matching numbers
Matt grey painted scabbard
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AKM Trainer in locked closed position
In open position, blade is sprung loaded. A version with black rubber is also available
Pommel mark indicates manufacture by RADOM
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First production 1985 with black rubber fittings
courtesy of Dave Holley
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2nd production 1987 with black rubber
courtesy of Dave Holley
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1st prototype version of trainer
courtesy of Dave Holley
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2nd prototype of trainer
courtesy of Dave Holley
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3rd prototype and the version chosen for production
courtesy of Dave Holley
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ROMANIA
AK47 Type, (no example) Folding blade as SKS
AKM Type 1 Has a wide leather strap around the insulator on the scabbard (See Lebanon) Three different frog styles
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AK47 still in original wax paper wrapping
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AKM1 middle production period
Markings on AKM1
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Late production AKM Type I, identified by the green nylon frog
Matching serials
Green Nylon frog
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Three patterns of Frog found on AKM (photo courtesy of Bill Porter) early to late top to bottom
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Interesting variation of Frog
courtesy of Dave Holley
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RUSSIA
AK47 Type, Scabbard has the metal frog attachment split into two tangs around the scabbard, the hilts are maroon bakelite (no example) or Reddish Wood Web frog. Found with Tula star and Iveshk Arrow in triangle. Late models of this pattern have the single strap seen on the Romanian version, they can be told apart by the smaller weld spots on the Russian version and markings
AKM Type 1 Early patterns have a squarer butt than the later rounded version. There are also variations in the press stud checkering.
AKM Type 2
AK74 (no examples) Comes in both plum coloured and black resin. You can also get a pinned version which does not fit a gun and sold commercially as a knife. Arrow in the triangle near the wire cutter.
Tula manufactured blades have an outline star marking and the Iveshk produced blades have the arrow in a triangle. An acceptance stamp of an 11 in a flattened Oval is attributed to Russian blades
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Late pattern AK47
Cross guard arrow in triangle of Iveshk arsenal
Same marks on tang
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AKM type 1 produced by Tula, the Tula stamp (outline star) is on the small stud behind the muzzle ring.
Russian acceptance marks on AKM
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AKM type 1
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Tula stamped AKM type 1
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AKM type 1 with a "squared" pommel shape (courtesy of Dave Holley)
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Iveshk produced AKM type 2
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AKM Type 2 with early East German hanger (identified by Brian)
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Early AKM Type II
Iveshk makers mark with 3 digit serial number
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AK74 with dark "plum" composite grips and scabbard
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There are a constant stream of variations to the bayonets this one has a modified pommel
courtesy of Dave Holley
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A pair of plum AK blades with a modified cross guard and ring, a normal model is shown for comparison, obviously a manufacturing change
courtesy of Karl
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SERBIA
Part of what was originally Yugoslavia they used the Yugoslav made AK bayonet
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Standard bayonet with camouflage paint job matching the Serbian colors
courtesy of Dave Holley
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SOUTH AFRICA
Both AK47 and AKM bayonets have been reported to be made by South Africa for its troops but there is no confirmation of this. There is a modified version of the FN FAL bayonet for use on the AK, only about a 1000 of these blades were made. The blade is actually for the Gallil rifle, which is based on the AK mechanism but built by Israel
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R4 bayonet, a modification of the FN FAL to fit the Gallil series of assault rifles, this is possibly the rarest of the production versions with only 1000 reputedly made
Modification consists of a new locking method using an extended bar locking approximately half way down the tube. Note South African acceptance mark on the "pommel"
A steel sleeve in the tube covers the flash ports in the original tube
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VIETNAM
They used AK47 weapons during the civil war, Chinese supplied Type 56 (AK copy) was used with fixed folding spike bayonet, these are regularly seen on the pictures of the period.
A series of AK bayonets came onto the market around 2006 which were reported to be made by Vietnam for sale, these were made without scabbards and were all sold in German style scabbards. There were two colours of handle, a red and a black. The bayonets are very distinctive with small pommels compared to Eastern Block manufactured ones
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Made for commercial sale by Vietnam apparently, the bayonet comes in two colours and has a very distinctive hilt, the bayonets were made without scabbards and sold with East German ones so the difference in scabbards is down to seller. The black hilt is stamped with a Star symbol the red with 21 and both pommels have a number 3 in them |
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YUGOSLAVIA
AK47 Type?, (no example)
AKM Type 2 Resin scabbard with wire cutter All black grip and plastic scabbard. Block numbers stamped in grip and scabbard.
They are reported to have supplied manufacturing equipment to Iraq for them to manufacture their own blades
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AKM type 2 made in Yugoslavia
Vibro etched number K6 on blade and scabbard. Serial number is cast into grips and scabbard
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ZIMBABWE
Do not make their own blades but use blades from other countries. Browsing a large selection bought by a dealer from Zimbabwe showed the following blade selection
East German both AKM types 1 and 2
Russia AKM types 1 and 2 from both Iveshk and Tula arsenals as well as commercially produced blades with no manufacturing marks but Russian acceptance stamp (11 in a flattened oval). Early pattern Tula AKM1's with the squarer hilt were also seen.
North Korean AKM
Romania AKM type 1's with both canvas and nylon frogs.
The blades examined all showed signs of wear and poor storage, however these were the remnants.
I have examples of several variations but since they are shown under their relevant countries I have not included them to save space.
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