Kalashnikov Bayonets of the World

Not sure what the official designation for this bayonet is. I call it the Romanian transitional bayonet, as it seems to come between the Type 1 and true Type II bayonet.
Funny how sometimes things come along when not expected. I have the Type 1's and the true type II's, but had always been missing this one. They aren't all that common anymore, and prices are high. So I was pretty much blown away when this one popped up on a South African edged weapons Facebook group by someone looking to sell it.
At first thought it must be a mismatched Russian one with a Romy frog, but when i asked for better pics, and saw the Romy marking...I jumped.
Did the deal at a very fair price, and got it today. Nice to fill in that gap.
I am waiting for some info on how he got it, as he has had it for many years. Most of these came from rifles imported into the USA, but seems this one was taken from the battlefield. He mentioned a PLAN soldier, hope to get some confirmation (People's Liberation Army of Namibia?)
Serial is scratched off I think, and overpainted. But the rest is good condition.
Glad to have it. Is the leather/colour/frog etc all standard as known out there?

Brian

Bravo! Great find!
Frog looks ok to me. I have almost same one but on AKM I model.

Did they add new numbers or just removed old? If they added them, how many digs number have?

There is only a rough section on the top of the scabbard with scratches, where I think there was once a number. And some black paint over it. No sign that there was a number on the knife itself, and no new numbering. I suspect the South African soldier who captured it might have removed the number, but I suppose it could have been done by the original owner when it was issued.
Odd though, as I do not know of any of these issued or used in Southern Africa.

Nice find Brian. I have two variations of this bayonet that I will post pics of later (Logo location and design) both have cotton web, dark green hgangers, but I have also seen examples here in the US with the same hanger you have.

MDI

Yeah, I was chuffed because I didn't have this frog type yet, even with my Type I examples...so killed 2 birds with one stone, so to speak

Here is one of my Romanian AKM - AIMS 74 6X4 Type II bayonet and Type I scabbard, (transitional?). This one was picked up in new, unissued condition in northern Iraq. Like Brian's above it appears to have been lightly numbered and then numbers removed and touched up/repainted.
Mike

Here is my second Romanian AKM - AIMS 74 6X4 Type II bayonet and scabbard. This one has matching numbers and was issued and used by Romania. Mike

Here are pictures of the Romanian AKM - AIMS 6X4 Type II bayonets and scabbards showing the fabric and leather hangers. Shown for comparison in the last picture is a similar hanger on a Romanian AKM 6X3 Type I bayonet and scabbard. Notice the difference in the placement of the rivet positioning forming the belt loop. Narrow belt vs wide belt loop. Mike

Just got in two of these from Arms of America

My two AIMS’s
These both came from the US.

Both of my 6x4/6x3 Romanian bayonets have the Dark Green hanger like the bayonet on the right in Dragur2791's photos. They came from two different sources and to the best of my knowledge the hangers are original to the bayonets. Many people in the US try to say that these all should have the Bright Green nylon hanger on the left, but I believe they were issued with both.

Both of mine also came with the dark green fabric hangers, (see pictures above with red background). HOWEVER, note that both of mine have the lower rivets for a much wider belt unlike any of the others posted here. Has anyone else noticed this difference and have Romy hangers with the lower rivets? This may be the wrong thread but I'll also post pictures of the gold vs green fabric hangers on Romy 6X3s. Note the higher rivets and the different sew patterns. M.

Gold vs green Romy hangers. Different sew patterns and overall lengths. Mike

I agree with MDI. I believe the Romanians just used/issued what ever hangers were available at any given time. There does not seem to be much consistency in there use. I will also add that my 2 AIMS-74 bayonets came from two different sources with an approx. 10 year time difference. The 1st one was picked up unused, sealed in a bag in Northern Iraq, (2003?). The 2nd one came from Arms of America in used condition a couple years ago.

Here is another picture of a Romanian AIMS-74 bayonet and scabbard that I found. It appears to be new and unissued. Again notice the green fabric hanger with the low rivets. Mike

Just added this nice Romanian transitional to my collection. (Thank you Marco for selling me this)
uncommonly its unnumbered and I think it deserves to be a part of our forum.

Nice piece