The sheath is very similar to that of the AKM Type II.
Instead of the Bowie/clip point-style blade used on the AKM bayonets, the AK-74 bayonet uses a spear point blade that retains saw teeth and the slot for use as a wire cutter. The grip has a stippled surface and concentric ridges for better gripping and may be manipulated in the hand better for use as a fighting knife. It is basically an improved or refined version of the AKM Type II bayonet. Although some AKM Type II bayonets were initially used for the AK-74, in 1983 a bayonet designed for the 5.45x39mm rifle was introduced. Russian AKM Type II bayonet features squared metal pommel and plastic sheath that does not need an insulator.įourth is the AK-74 bayonet. Examples may be found from Russia, East Germany, Egypt, and Poland. These may take the form of a Type I bayonet with a Type II sheath or a Type II bayonet with a Type I sheath. These were reportedly used with the Chinese version of the SVD sniper rifle.Īlso produced were transitional AKM bayonets that incorporate features of the Type I and Type II. One interesting Chinese AKM Type II bayonet does not have the wire cutter feature. Fortunately, many of this type of bayonet were imported with Chinese AK-47s, so they are usually easy to find. This is my favorite AK bayonet, one that I consider an invaluable adjunct to an AK-47 rifle. The AKM Type II bayonet was produced in Russia, Bulgaria, China, Iraq, East Germany, and Yugoslavia. As a result, the second type of AKM bayonet incorporates a squared-off steel pommel.Īdditionally, the metal scabbard used on the AKM Type I bayonet was replaced with a non-conductive plastic sheath with a metal tip for the wire cutter stud. Because troops had a tendency to use the butt of the bayonet as a hammer, the bulbous plastic pommel had proven too fragile. Third is the AKM Type II bayonet, introduced in the mid-1960s and incorporating two new features. Romanian AKM Type I bayonet and sheath with distinctive retention strap wrapped around insulator. They were produced in Russia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, and Romania. AKM Type I bayonets are normally recognizable by their rather bulbous pommel. I’ve found that the standard hanger used on the AKM Type I sheath lets the bayonet bounce around too much and make noise. Since the AKM bayonet can also be used as a fighting knife, a wrist strap can be attached to help retention. Saw teeth along the bayonet’s spine allow it to be used for light sawing.
#Ak 47 bayonet doesnt fit in sheath plus#
Another real plus for the AKM bayonet was the combination of the plastic handle and stainless blade, which make it highly resistant to rust. Normally, the metal scabbard has a rubber sleeve insulator, which combined with the non-conductive plastic handle allows electrical wires to be cut, as well as barbed wire. It has a Bowie-style blade of just under six inches and incorporates a slot in the blade so it can be coupled with the tip of the sheath to act as a wire cutter. Designed for the AKM version of the AK-47 introduced in 1959, which had a bayonet lug, the AKM bayonet doubled as a multi-purpose utility/fighting knife. Russian examples bring substantially more than Bulgarian ones, so anyone purchasing one of these bayonets should be beware, as Bulgarian bayonets are often sold as Russian ones. One way to tell is that the drain hole at the tip of the scabbard is on the front of the Russian version and on the back of the Bulgarian version. Bulgarian ones are fairly common in the USA and are very difficult to tell from Russian ones without careful comparison. These early-style bayonets were produced in Russia, Bulgaria, East Germany, Poland, North Korea, and China. It uses a 7.9-inch blade similar to those on the World War II M1940 bayonet for the Tokarev SVT-40 Self-Loading Rifle.
Since the original AK-47 rifle did not incorporate a bayonet lug, this bayonet was designed to slip over the barrel using a dual muzzle-ring system, with the rear ring split to pass by the front sight.