Polish AK47 Bayonet Training Device

[Mr. B.]

This is a solid, molded rubber training device designed to represent a Polish AK47 rifle with an attached bayonet. It has a metal core and is the correct size and weight to simulate an actual weapon. I am not sure what time period this trainer represents. The molded details are somewhat contradictive. The rifle receiver represents a forged AK47 rifle, but the bayonet has the bowie point of a 6H3, (type I), or a 6H4 (type II).
Poland produced AK47 bayonets dating from 1957 to 1970. At some point after that they changed to AKM rifles using 6H3 bayonets. The 6H3 bayonets were eventually replaced by the 6H4 bayonet and the 6H4, (WZ85 Model), training bayonets which were produced from 1985 till into the 2000s. My best guess is that they were used during the change over to the AKM before the WZ58 became available. Pictures show a DDR AKM clone for comparison, a page from a Polish bayonet reference and details of the molded features.

Mike