The ASFA commonly found on the hilt of Turkish bayonets is the stamp indicting its manufacture/conversion by the army arsenal that came into existence in 1929, converted blades without the ASFA stamp were converted before this time. The Turks converted large numbers of bayonets to fit their own weapons, you can find most variations of WWI German made bayonets, Rumanian, Yugoslavian, Czechoslovak and British (also Australian). They also converted their own 1890 and 1903 pattern bayonets. Many were converted to the "1935" pattern to fit a Spanish version of the standard Mauser rifle, these typically have a 10" (250mm) blade and cross guard modifications to mount onto this rifle. Some of these blades were also converted to mount onto the US M1 rifle, these typically have a straight sided crossguard.
Collecting Turkish bayonets is a field on its own with a huge number of variations, with their being variations within the variations. Many UK 1907 pattern bayonets are sold as Gallipoli captures, although there were substantial numbers of captured blades one needs to study the markings closely to rule out the large numbers that were bought in the late 20's (you will see 20's rework marks on the blades or manufacture dates after 1917), additionally Australian marks do not necessarily indicate use in Gallipoli, I have an Australian marked blade but it was made after the battle and would most likely be part of a shipment post WWI to the Turkish allies.
In the19060's the Turkish introduced the FN FAL rifle into service and made their own distinctive bayonet. Often sold as an Ersatz German Bayonet these twin ring bayonets come in four slightly different styles but all are made after the 60's and not WWI conversions.
1874 Peabody Yataghan, converted to side arm status by removing the locking stud and replacing the leather grips with replacement wooden ones. The replacement grips can be plain or chequered
Markings on underside of pommel
There are very few markings on the blade, and all metal surfaces have been refinished in a matt black finish which is in good condition
Right Grips, with leaf spring
Left Grips
Peabody bayonet shortened and straightened with modified leather scabbard
Peabody bayonet shortened and straightened steel scabbard
1890
1890 in leather scabbard
Ricasso marks on 1890 showing manufacture by Simson and Co Suhl
1890 Pommel marks
1903 converted by adding a plug o the muzzle ring into which a screwed rod can be fitted to take the earthing strap for telegraphy
1903, leather scabbard shows damage due to moisture and drying
Simson and Co Suhl markings
Shortened German 98/05 without the normal muzzle ring addition
1903, although similar to the German 1898 the pommel and crossguard are different
Straight pommel and curved quillion are different to the German 1898
Star mark on pommel
Crescent mark on pommel
Throat is marked with crescent
Turkish ricasso mark indicates German makers name
1903 short, this is the purpose made short and not shortened as indicated by the short fuller, as opposed to one extending through the point
Scabbard has the correct 1903 hole, many are in modified 1935 scabbards
Pommel Turkish markings
Markings under the cross guard
ASFA stamp is post 1929
Mauser Milanovich sabre has been shortened to fit with 1935 pattern blades
Original makers mark still on ricasso
Cross guard modified to mount on 1935 pattern Mauser rifle
1935 conversion of an EB9 ersatz
Ersatz bayonet (EB24) shortened to 10" blade but otherwise unmodified
Left hilt of above, blade is unfullered
Ersatz bayonet (EB25a) shortened to 10" blade but otherwise unmodified. It is not known if the removal of the muzzle ring was carried out by the Germans or the Turks
Left hilt of above, blade is unfullered
Ersatz bayonet (EB34) shortened to 10" blade but otherwise unmodified
"Bent" muzzle ring is original to this model of ersatz bayonet
Left hilt, blade is fullered
1935 Leaf Spring model
Close up of External spring 1935
1935 model with a large ASFA stamp on the hilt, much larger than the normal ASFA on the pommel and not commonly seen
Rumanian Mannlicher conversion
German Ersatz cut down. Two part cross guard with fullers
German Ersatz cut down,
Cross guard moved back up hilt, rather than shortened hilt as is more normal. Close up of modified hilt. Scabbard has Leather throat piece welded to steel body
1915 Ersatz German cut down with fullers
1915 Ersatz German cut down without fullers
M1935 new made bayonet
1935 with frog
M1935 conversion of 1903 model
Shortened German S98 quillback bayonet
Scabbard of above, a shortened and re throated Czech "Mauser" scabbard
Shortened and ground saw backed German 98/05
Close up of blade on ground sawback
Shortened and ground German 98/05
Close up of the badly ground end of the above blade
1935 using modified German 98/05 scabbard
Conversion by shortening and grinding of German Ersatz M1916 bayonet 13.5mm muzzle ring indicates this conversion is for the M1 Garand rifle (thanks Otto)
Converted Ersatz
Close up of above blade showing crude welding of new cross guard onto bayonet, and the small muzzle ring diameter
Shortened German all steel Ersatz
Czech 1895, crossguard has been modified
Comparison of hilt length with normal VZ24
Modified VZ23 cross guard for 1935 rifle
| Total length = mm | Blade length = mm | Blade width = mm | MRD = mm |
Czech VZ23 unmodified
Ricasso marks on VZ23
German Ersatz Carter EB28
Hilt markings on above blade
German made 1916 Ersatz for Turkey Crossguard marks and indent
Converted UK 1907 pattern scabbard showing AT3 stamp of Yugoslav based scabbard
Shortened 1903, with intact quillion
1935 pattern conversions of German S98 and S98/05 pattern sawbacks. both have only partial removal of sawback, and show signs of the hilts being shortened, resulting in longer ricasso's
German 71/84 with added sawback - non original to blade as it is too short in total lengthened number of teeth to be an originally made sawback
1888 issue marks on 71/84
German acceptance marks on pommel, and Turkish serial on crossguard
Saw back has been on the blade for some time as there is typical throat damage from sawback insertion into scabbard
Australian made 1907
1907 Pattern marks on Ricasso
Australian makers mark and converted crossguard
UK 1907 converted to '35 standard bayonet
1927 marks on blade show this is post war purchase and not WWI captured blade, bayonet is originally made 1915
Shortened UK 1907, this bayonet shows a 1945 manufacture date so shows that the 1935 model; continued to be produced after WWII
Raised muzzle ring and shaved pommel
Scabbard uses the throat from a UK scabbard brazed into the body of a shortened German 98/05 scabbard
Scabbard is not the late crimped scabbard
WSC S294 marks of WWII production Wilkinson manufactured bayoent, date shows this to be a 1945 produced models
Yugoslav VZ long bayonet converted to '35 standard length
BT3 arsenal marks on converted VZ bayonet
98/05 nA conversion, I am assuming that the new ring fits Czech 1922 rifle
Mauser blade marks on 1918 made 98/05 with added muzzle ring
98/05nA mS sawbacked butcher blade conversion to '35 standard, probably for the Czech rifle
Mauser blade marks on 1917 made 98/05 sawback with added muzzle ring
Cut down 98/05 with added muzzle ring and removed sawback
Added muzzle ring and showing signs of removed sawback
Squared fuller 1935 from unknown blade
Converted from German M16 Ersatz by shortening and grinding original shape would be as a German 98/05
M1935 new made bayonet
Twin ringed for FAL with fullers also available with an un fullered blade
Notched muzzle ring on twin ring bayonet. Have fullered and un fullered versions with this ring
Straight muzzle ring on twin ring bayonet. Have fullered and un fullered versions with this ring
Garand model made by adding an additional plate onto the existing crossguard of a 1935 pattern bayonet, this new plate has a smaller off centre hole designed to mate with the Garand flash hider
The added plate is pined into position on the existing cross guard
WWI produced German 84/98
Blade shows heavy grinding
Back edge of blade has date removed
Original makers mark
1935 Mauser bayonet modified to fit n the US M1 Garand rifle
Spacer with small muzzle ring added to original cross guard.
Frog for US webbing
1935 made by converting a WWI German brass hilted ersatz by adding a new cross guard approximately 20mm back from its original position. Very crude brazing holds on the steel cross guard to the brass hilt. For comparison the bottom picture shows an unmodified original German bayonet with original cast on muzzle ring
German 98/05 fitted with a muzzle ring probably to mount on the original Mauser rifle as it is low to the tang. Interestingly the blade has been shortened to the "standard" 10" blade length, but the original sawback has not been removed by grinding.
Russian 1891 Mosin Nagant shortened for use by Turkey
Blade originally made by Iveshk armoury
Scabbard for G3 bayonet
Ersatz, this version has the twist in the blade behind the cross guard, and what at first glance an 1895 crossguard, however this is roughly made and much heavier than the 1895 ones. The muzzle ring is not even cantered in the cross guard. These are often identified as Austrian, many thanks to Otto for correcting this mis ID
The scabbard is an Austrian Ersatz.
M1916 ersatz in ersatz Austrian scabbard, scabbard and hilt are painted with the same colour. This M1916 has German inspection marks on the ricasso and the pommel.
1918 pattern ersatz frog, uses multiple layers of thin leather rather than one piece of heavier.
Early production VZ24
1923 date on Czech issue mark
Pommel shows multiple re issues
1887
star under cross guard
Sultans mark on pommel shows this was Turkish issue (many of these blades were held by the Germans due to the change to the 1890 pattern)
Weyersberg Kirschbaum and Cie Solingen makers mark, date is 1889 so is among the last made (date corrected by Otto from my original 1890 trranscription)
Blade spine marks
Locket
Bayonet is a US 1905 cut down to 10" and bought in a Turkish style scabbard. Turkish use is tentative based on scabbard and length
Black handle and blade ground to below fuller depth
Long bladed G3 bayonet in what appears to be a WWI FAG style scabbard, thought to be Turkish
