Romanian Type II variations

[Brian]

I have been asked a few times about any differences between the various Type II's that we come across.
As we know, the 2 sources seem to be South African contract ones from about 1988, and then the rest that are assumed to be either Romanian issued, or for export rifles.
The ones that are not SA contract (I'll call them Romanian Contract) come out with double Cugir logo, Logo on handle with a letter on the scabbard, and what seems to be at least one with logo on handle and no marking on the scabbard.
See the pics below. What I also noticed is a numeral 1 on the sheath of the double logo South African contract ones, and then in the same place, a vertical line (not a worn away 1) on the double logo Romanian contract one. Not sure what that indicates.
I have also noticed slight differences in the "bump" on the scabbards. One appears more of a teardrop with a sharper end.
I have taken some pics in the hope of documenting any variations in these. Maybe one of these days this variation will become clearer.

Brian

[MDIvie]

I have both the double logo versions and got them from the same source. Am looking for any or all of the letter variatons.

Martin

[Mr. B.]

I have a couple of the transitional ones with the type I scabbards, but none with the type II scabbards. Being retired and on a budget restricts purchases to those I can sneak thru under $100.00. I have to be patient and hope more become available at lower prices in the future. Would like to start with a nice one with matching numbers and triangles and arrows on both as a representable sample. May not have enough money or time for all the marking variations. Mike


PS: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all !!!

[Dragur2791]

Hello everybody - merry christmas and happy new year to you also! Greetings from Denmark!!

Brian, those are excellent looking variations of the romy type 2’s you got there in your collection.
Interesting to see the example with the blank area scabbard.
In total, what is an estimate of produced type 2’s ? Respectively the Romy and South African contract?

Im still on my first double logo piece. Payed high price to get it here in Europe. Those South African contract ones are high on my list!

[Brian]

I haven't seen an SA contract one available for over a year. Seems whatever was stolen from special forces has now calmed down or been secured. Only way they would have left there. They do have a lot of the rifles and ammo that they bought late 80's..I guess for foreign weapons training.
But only a handful of collectors here know what they are and had the sources for them. I was just lucky with all mine.

As for quantities, that can only be guessed. I suspect the serials started with A1000 and the latest I have seen is about A12xx so maybe 250 rifles? Just a guess.
As to the Romanian/other contracted ones, no idea. That is the big question that we would all love to know.

Mike, secret to getting one of these I figure will be to trade for things you have more than one of. Tabuk or .....?
That's the best way to increase the collection now that we all need rarer stuff beyond our means.

[Dragur2791]

I often opt for more than one piece of each specific ak bayonet variation, to use em for possible trades in the future. Indeed a good way to acquire other rare stuff out there!

would love to see some close up details of that SA contract no A1128. Looks interesting with that darker grip and lighter coloured scabbard!

[MDIvie]

Brian,

My example of what you describe as the South African Contract variation with the 1 on the scabbard instead of the I is serial number 7076.

Martin

[Brian]

Martin,
SA ones will always have an A prefix.
Axxxx
Or actually... A1xxx
7076 would not have come to SA, it must be part of either Romanian or other country issue. When I referred to the one with double logo and I as Romanian contract, I mean it is not part of the SA export/purchase.

[MDIvie]

Brian thanks for the clarification.
So my bayonet has the same mold styles for the logo and the number 1 as the SA contract bayonets but is not an SA contract bayonet.

Martin

[Dragur2791]

The hunt payed off! I finally got hold on one of these SA export bayonets. It wasn’t easy, but after a few hit and misses, the SA export bayonet finally made it to Denmark.

Note the “C” stamp on the cross guard.

[Dragur2791]

Few other pics

[Dragur2791]

Here is a picture of the actual export Romy AIMS rifle in use during a training exercise by a recon unit. The bayonets are nowhere to be seen though.

[MDIvie]

Nice piece.

[Brian]

Came from a SA source? I only know of one source and they are about double to triple what I sold my most expensive one for.

[Dragur2791]

Hi Brian,
Yes, it came from an SA source. I traded away a piece from my collection to get it. As an alternative i was facing a very high asking price.

Any chance you would share some newer detailed pics of the one(s) you got left?

[ilian]

Very nice bayonets guys! Need "letter" version

[Brian]

I have a few letters.
Still no idea why some had letters and some had logos. I think we need to post pics of all the known letters.

[Mr. B.]

Sounds good to me! I would enjoy seeing pictures / details even if I don't own one. Mike

[Dragur2791]

Just added this Romanian type II to my collection. Matching numbers “5475”.
It’s a letter version, marked “H”. No mould number on the back side of the scabbard.
The hanger is marked 1971.

[Dragur2791]

Romanian hanger marked 1971