Yugo fighting knife

[Dragur2791]

This is my mint in box Yugo fighting knife. Its a lucky find and is complete with manual and the original box.
The wood is undamaged and only a bit of glue residue is found in tiny places.
It has some sort of factory sticker on one side of the insulator and some marking on the hanger.

[Dragur2791]

Sticker on insulator and manual

[rogueX18]

This was an awesome find! Thank you for this post because I never knew this existed.
I think I read somewhere that it was a civilan version sold under the "camp knife" name.

[Haberfeldtreiber]

Hello,

very nice piece of knife / bayonet. This thing inspired me to build a knife, matching to my custom short barrel AK without bayonet lug.
I already got me a east german 6h3 (easy to get here ) and i want to build a wooden handle like this Camp Knife. Is the hole for the webbing strap the same position where the push button on the 6h3 would be? I also would like to know how long the handle is and if they used the same blade, but just without the pommel piece on it.

I hope my english explanation is understandable. Sorry for my semi professional english skills.

Greetings Benni

[Mr. B.]

Hi Benni,
First of all this is not an AK bayonet. It is a commercial “Camp Knife” converted from an AK bayonet and scabbard. It is a very interesting conversion. It appears to be very functional, well made and has a nice appearance. Personally I would have preferred a metal pommel though!?
However, it does raise a lot of questions.
First of all what was the basic bayonet. Yugo? Did Yugo make a 6X3 Type l bayonet and scabbard? All I am familiar with is the M64 6X4 Type II bayonet and scabbard. It makes a lot of difference on the length of the hilt tang.
Second, who made the scabbard and insulator? Did the Yugos make a M64 with a Type l metal scabbard? I see no markings, but it appears to have a machined cutter plate.
Third, Who made the belt hanger? It is not the usual correct Yugo hanger. This one appears to be a hand made one using a repurposed pack strap hook. This does not allow the bayonet and scabbard to swivel. Many of these hand made hangers came out of the Balkan’s post war. I have a couple with these hooks, some have snap buttons instead of the stud to close the hilt strap.
More later. PS: Your English is very good! Mike

[Mr. B.]

Hello again Benni,
Another thing to consider is if this knife is even Yugoslavian at all? This is a translation of the front of the instructions. Camp Knife Flag. Features and Operating Instructions. Red Flag Institution, (Company?). Kragujevac, (SERBIA!). Mike

[Mr. B.]

Benni,
This kamp knife appears to have been made from an AKM 6X3 Type I bayonet and scabbard. This view of the hilt shows that the pins in the wood hilt align with the holes in the 6X3 hilt tang. It is unknown if or where the internal pommel was removed. If they drilled out the rivets and removed the pommel the strap hole could be anywhere. The Type ll hilt tang is only half as long with only one central of the hilt hole. Hope this helps. Mike

IMG_2307.jpeg (49.02 KiB) Viewed 6739 times

[mill_speer]

Champing knife made from Yugolavian M.70A (6X3) bayonet
Bypassing the license for the production of AK47 rifles, Yugoslavia secretly manufactured them from 1965 onwards with the accompanying 6X3 bayonet.
When Yugoslavia officially acquired the license in 1970, these bayonets were obsolete, so they settled on the M.70A /6X4 bayonet.
The manufactured Yugo. 6X3 bayonets were never issued, and some were destroyed or converted into civilian champing knives.
The handle was made from light lacquered walnut wood.
There are occasional production marks under the guard. A few sheaths have 1-3 differently arranged dots stamped on them.
The M.70A (6X3) is still shown in the operating instructions from 1973, which replaces the operating instructions from August 1971. Partially in the operating instructions from 1983.

Dragur has a very rare, beautiful set of converted 6X3 bayonets, congratulations on that.
I would be interested to see what markings are present.

Pictures operating instructions 1973
and Markings

[mill_speer]

Pictures operating instructions 1983

[Mr. B.]

Hi Gerhard,
As usual, excellent documented information! Thank you for your expertise!
Also as usual, always something new to learn or remember as we grow older. I had forgotten about the 6X3 Yugos.
Best regards, Mike. PS: Check out the new posts about the “mystery” Yugo AK47 style bayonet. Possible?

[Haberfeldtreiber]

Thanks to you all! These are very nice informations and pictures.
already knew, this knife was not military and made for civilian market, but the information, that yugoslavia did copy 6h3 bayonets is new to me. I love this board.

Maybe some time i will show my litte collection of AK bayonets.