Kalashnikov Bayonets of the World

Almost impossible to find one like this! Museum quality! For me the wrist strap is also a very rare bonus. The original all leather strap without metal buckle(s) is extremely rare. They didn’t wear well and were usually replaced. They were usually a soft leather to help the grip on the plastic hilt ...

Hi Corgi, Yes. The NDM 86 is completely different than any other AKM 6X4 Type II bayonet and scabbard. They all look basically the same, but there are many differences. To start with the Bulgarian and Russian ones, both Tula and Izhevsk, are basically identical. Same Russian specifications ...

Hi Corgi, Are they both new or just the brown one? The brown ones are my favorites. I have owned dozens of the blue / black ones with different variations, but only one with a brown grip. I personally selected mine from a pile in Kuwait because it was different. It was the only brown one and had ...

Or is it a chicken and egg type question? Were the T58 hilts modified to accept the new T68 blades and tang. Or were the T68 blades newly made or modified to fit the T58 hilt. Take some time and closely examine all yhe pictures on both pages under “North Korea” - “Transitionals”. Not that difficult ...

Agree! However I would still like to study and measure one disassembled. To see how they made the parts with different dimensions fit together. Again, all new parts or modified existing Type 58 (AK47) parts. The Type 68 blade is thinner including the hilt tang.The T68 blade is taller and a different ...

Always considered them transitional, but can't say for sure why. I guess transitional and prototype are a fine line between them. Who knows why they decide on a new blade shape, but someone certainly did if they went to that blade shape for the Type 68's, so makes sense at some point someone came ...

Recently pictures were posted on another site of a rare North Korean AK bayonet. It has the Type 58 (AK47) style crossguard and pommel. However, the blade is a Bowie style as found on the Type 68 (AKM). Some collectors are calling this a “transitional” variation?
To me it would be more of a ...

Hi Curt, Yes, made it through an other year. The bayonet collecting era has slowed down. AK developement has slowed way down, not much new developement. In fact, AK designs seemed to be being replaced internationally. However, there are still a wide veriaty of AK bayonets out there. Many countries ...

Happy New Year and thumbs up to all members who contribute! Mike

Hi Zhangjun.

Very nice examples of the variations found with these bayonets. Both types of scabbards and hangers used. They can be used with either bayonet. No one seems to know the meaning of the grip color or the numbers on the pommel. The scabbards and hangers are obviously surplus East German ...

Hi Hans, As usual there are no detailed specifications for these bayonets and scabbards. They are made by different contractors for the collectors market. No military specifications or inspections. All the different colors of scabbards can be found with and without the “bump”. The “Bump” is a joke ...

Very nice indeed! The un-numbered, unissued, unused ones are my favorite ones to acquire and display. Remember though, that over 8 to 10 years or more of production even a small percentage held back un-numbered adds up. Every time a change is made in production, The previous variation becomes ...

Both of you are correct. It is a Russian Izhevsk scabbard. It has the correct Russian mold and inspection marks. In the pictures it appears to be un-numbered. Most Russian bayonets are paired and number matched to rifles at the arsenals. A small percent of bayonet and scabbard production is not ...

Hi Zhangjun, You are correct! The orange handled ones were the first 6X4 Type II production and are rarer than the latter black ones. The very first orange ones had the flat topped lock plate in the pommel are even rarer. The thin metal at the top and back of the pommel was a weak spot if struck ...

When an importer first brought in these real original Chinese military Type 81 bayonets and scabbards no one would buy them. No one had seen them before or knew what they were. After dragging them around to collectors shows he gave up. Either he or someone that bought them came up the plan to ...

Recently a picture was posted on another bayonet collectors site. It showed what appeared to be a late version Polish AKM 6H4 Type II hilt whith a black grip, (Beryl?). It also had a what appeared to be an even newer Polish Grote bayonet blade. The Grote is not a Kalishnikov bayonet. There were lots ...

Here are samples of 6X4 original Izhevsk arsenal matching numbers. One set is on an early variation and the other set is on a later variation with the reduced pommel. Mike

Hi Hans, Yes, the hand etched numbers on bayonets 3 and 6 are what I noticed as being inspected, reconditioned, re-numbered, repaired or replaced. Hard to tell on the others in your picture. Original arsenal matching numbers are machine engraved with block numbers. Located on the front lower space ...

Very nice examples! For me, the Russian AKM 6X4 Type I bayonets and scabbards are the stars of a Russian collection. It is possible to have them as a complete stand alone collection. It’s possible to have 20-30 examples. Different arsenals, different mold and stamp marks in different positions ...

No problem. Just wanted to clarify. It’s actually about the unique belt hanger and not the bayonet and scabbard. The Russian ones would be the correct ones. Also the nice Russians with matching numbers are becoming more difficult to find.
A several of my Lithy belt hangers came without bayonets. I ...