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 prototype, experimental or test model. Lots of questions as to Who, Where and Why they were made. Also how were they made? The dimensions of the individual components are different, blade and tang, crossguard / latch and pommel.
Were they made of all new components or were the existing parts modified to fit together? Why replace a blade on a AK bayonet? Why consider the complex and expensive AK attachments, (crossguard, latch, pommel), on a new AKM rifle?
Open for discussion. Anyone have any information or ideas??? Mike
North Korean AK47 - AKM “transitional” Bayonets
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Re: North Korean AK47 - AKM “transitional” Bayonets
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 up with the blade while they were redesigning the bayonets, and did a mid development model. Maybe they wanted to see how the new blade worked out before they made all the new bayos.
Either way, I think these are generally accepted as being correct, and of course a very desirable model. Wish I could find one.
Either way, I think these are generally accepted as being correct, and of course a very desirable model. Wish I could find one.
Brian
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Re: North Korean AK47 - AKM “transitional” Bayonets
Brian wrote: Tue Jan 14, 2025 3:45 pm 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 up with the blade while they were redesigning the bayonets, and did a mid development model. Maybe they wanted to see how the new blade worked out before they made all the new bayos.
Either way, I think these are generally accepted as being correct, and of course a very desirable model. Wish I could find one.
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Mr. B.
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Re: North Korean AK47 - AKM “transitional” Bayonets
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 shape where it goes through the crossguard. All these differences affect the fit of the locking bar and spring. Also the junction of the hilt tang and pommel. Sort of a round hole - square peg type of question? Mike
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Re: North Korean AK47 - AKM “transitional” Bayonets
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 to field strip a T58 bayonet!? Mike