Originally manufactured in Liege for Schelswig-Holstein rebels, these rifles were taken by the Danish Government and altered at Kronborg 1853–55 for use by Danish forces. They were subsequently converted to the Snider breech loading system at Copenhagen in 1866. Bayonets were made in both Denmark and Belgium.

The unit marking on the socket identifies the 20th Infantry Battalion, 4th Company, Weapon No. 136.

Socket: "20 B. 4C. 146"

Unique locking spring designed by Johan Christian Wilken Kyhl (pronounced, 'cool') and first introduced in 1794.  The Kyhl spring catch was used on Danish bayonets from 1794–1860 and also on bayonets made by Norwegian and Prussian makers.

According to Per Holmback, noted authority on Scandinavian bayonets, approximately 12,000 of these weapons were taken over by the Danish Army after 1851 (from the Schleswig-Holstein rebels) and converted in 1854. The marking "SH XV B 186" stands for Schleswig Holstein 15th Battalion, Weapon 186.

Designated Kårdebajonet m/1915 (Sword Bayonet Model 1915), this T-back bayonet was used with the m/1889 Gevær (Rifle) from 1915–22; and beginning in 1923 and 1924 with the m/1889 Rytterkarabin (Cavalry Carbine), Ingeniørkarabin (Engineer Carbine), Fodfolkskarabin (Infantry Carbine), and Artillerikarabin (Artillery Carbine).

The entire bayonet is a one-piece forging, save for the press stud. The wood grip scales are inset into the hilt and secured by flush brass rivets. The metal is in the white, although blued examples are also encountered. The scabbard is black leather with steel mounts. The topmount incorporates a spring locking device. Scabbards made of brown leather are also encountered.

This example was made in 1917 at the Hærens Tøjhus (Army Arsenal) in Copenhagen. The serial number, 110013, corresponds to a M1889 Rifle or Carbine made in 1917.

The unit marking, "2B.495" signifies the 2nd Infantry Battalion, Weapon No. 495.

Click on the photo to see a Madsen knife bayonet used by Colombia.

Military Assistance Program (MAP) records document that the U.S. provided 69,808 M1 rifles to Denmark between 1951 and 1963. Denmark subsequently purchased an additional 20,000 M1 rifles produced in Italy.

This example is a Second World War U.S.  M1 bayonet,  manufactured by the Union Fork and Hoe Co., Columbus, Ohio. 

The Danish-made scabbard copies the U.S. M7 scabbard, with the composition lower portion having a wood grain pattern instead of the U.S. M7's olive green.

The scabbard body is made of Durofol, a laminated wood developed in Germany during the Second World War. It is made by impregnating beech veneers of 0.2 to 0.3 mm. thickness with 25 to 35 percent of a water-soluble phenolic resin cured under both high pressure and temperature. Post-War, Durofol KG, J. Brangs & Co. of Solingen became the exclusive manufacturer, which later became Durofol Presswerk GmbH.

HMAK is an abbreviation of Hærens Materiel Kommando (Army Materiel Command). The HMAK marking was used beginning in 1969.

FKF is an abbreviation of Førsvarets Krigsmateriel Førvaltning (Defense War Materiel Administration). This marking was used prior to 1960.

HTK is an abbreviation of Hærens Tekniske Korps (Army Technical Corps). This marking was used 1960–69.

The scabbard body is made of Durofol, a laminated product described under M1, above.

The frog measures 8.00 in.(210 mm.) long by 1.625 in. (42 mm.) wide.

This example is made of khaki green webbing and dates from the 1960s.

Bayonet Belt Frogs Page

FKF is the abbreviation for the Forsvarets Krigsmaterial Forvalning (Defense War Material Administration). This marking was used prior to 1960.

The images at left show the frog in use.

Bayonet Belt Frogs Page

This example is made of tan webbing. It measures 4.00 in.(102 mm.) wide by 2.25 in. (57 mm.) high.

Bayonet Belt Frogs Page

It measures 3.875 in.(98 mm.) wide by 2.125 in. (54 mm.) high.

Bayonet Belt Frogs Page

It measures 4.00 in.(102 mm.) wide by 2.25 in. (57 mm.) high.

Bayonet Belt Frogs Page

The M1962 is a copy of the U.S. M5A1 bayonet, adopted by Denmark in 1962. Two production variants exist. both made in Germany. Early production is believed to have been produced by E & F Hörster. These had a peened pommel, as shown in the image at left. Later production had a smooth pommel and were marked "HMAK." These are believed to have been produced by Carl Eickhorn Waffenfabrik. According to Danish sources, 32,300 m/62 bayonets were procured.

The scabbard is a copy of the US M8A1, employing a British-style belt fastener. The scabbard body is made of Durofol, a laminated product described under M1, above.

HTK is an abbreviation of Hærens Tekniske Korps (Army Technical Corps). This marking was used 1960–69.

Scabbard:  Crown over "HTK"

The blade is patterned after the U.S. M4 bayonet-knife. This example has the 10:30 press catch, however, examples may also be found with the 9 O'clock press catch. Three M1975 variations exist:

— The earliest examples had a black 6–groove grip; broad notched crosspiece; and steel pommel.

—A second variant had a 7–groove grip, half-notched crosspiece; and plastic pommel.

— This example is of the third variant, which is identical to the second, except for the narrow plain crosspiece.

Earlier scabbards had the British-style belt fastener, like the M1962 bayonet scabbard above. Later scabbards, like this example, had the U.S. M1910-style wire belt hanger.

All Danish M1975 bayonets were made in Germany. This example was made by AES. However, early examples may have been produced by Carl Eickhorn Waffenfabrik, E & F Hörster, or another contractor. The flashguard marking, HMAK, is an abbreviation of Hærens Materiel Kommando (Army Materiel Command). The HMAK marking was used beginning in 1969.

In 2009, British bayonet historian R.D.C. Evans published an excellent and comprehensive article on G3 bayonets that is available for download at no cost.

Denmark purchased G3 rifles from Rheinmettal AG in Germany in the mid-1960s, designating them the Gevær m/66. The m/66 had a selector lock that required insertion of a special key to enable full automatic fire. In the mid-1970s, the Danes leased additional G3 rifles from Germany, designating them the Gevær m/75. The m/75 rifles were true selective-fire weapons. These were issued to the regular army and the m/66 rifles relegated to the home guard. The G3 was replaced in regular army service by the Diemaco C7 (M16) in the mid-1990s.

G3 and CETME Bayonets Page

This is the Austrian Feldmesser 78, purchased by Denmark for use solely as a field knife.

The blade and scabbard bear both the Glock trademark and Danish markings. This example has seen considerable use.

The grip and scabbard are black. The scabbard is one-piece of molded plastic, with a belt hanger and a device that securely locks the bayonet into the scabbard. The little tab on the upper crosspiece serves as a bottle opener.

This knife was designed such that it could be used as a bayonet with the 5.56 mm. NATO caliber Steyr AUG (Armee Universal-Gewehr) assault rifle. A socket in the pommel (covered by a plastic cap) engages a bayonet adapter that can be fitted to the rifle. Early Glock marketing materials show the bayonet mounted to an AUG rifle.

Ricasso (left): Glock trademark over "Austria"

Scabbard (front): "Danmark" over "M/96"

Scabbard (side): Glock trademark