The blade is that of a Russian M1891, mated to a socket that is dimensionally identical to those used with the British Martini-Henry rifle. At 18.2 mm., the socket bore is too large for a Berdan II bayonet. The cut from severing the M1891 bayonet elbow results in a distinctive shield-like ricasso when the M1891 blade is welded to the new socket. The donor blade bears the Ishevsk Arsenal bow-and-arrow trademark, indicating that it was manufactured prior to 1928. It also has the characteristic Russian screwdriver point.

The socket length is 3.00 in. (76 mm.). This example has an odd shape to the inside of the bridge, as if the rifle's front sight was off-center, while the outside of the bridge is symmetrical (so is not merely damaged or bent).

Several examples of this uncommon bayonet have turned up (I know of four), the first in 2009. All bear the Russian serial number on the blade and three of the four bear the Ishevsk trademark. This example and one other have absolutely identical ricasso markings (same combination of letters/numbers, same placement, same font), suggesting that the marking may be spurious. In any case, the markings are not Russian nor are they British. Of the other two examples, one had no ricasso markings, but had been heavily polished, so the ricasso markings could have been obliterated. I did not observe the fourth example’s ricasso.

Afghan copy of the British Pattern 1888 bayonet produced at the Afghanistan Royal Arsenal at Mazar-e-Sharif. This type is classified as #3-20 in Dennis Ottobre's book, Bayonets of Afghanistan.

The arsenal mark is believed to represent the Hazrat Ali Mazar, a mosque which Sunni Muslims believe is built over the tomb of Ali ibn Abi Talib. The most prominent landmark in Mazar-e-Sharif, it is commonly referred to as the "Blue Mosque," owing to its blue-tiled exterior.

The pommel is marked with the Hijra date 1315, which corresponds to 1897 in the Western (Gregorian) calendar. The ricasso is marked with the Hijra date 1316 (1898) below the arsenal mark.

This Afghan-produced bayonet is classified as #6–15 in Dennis Ottobre's book, Bayonets of Afghanistan.

According to Ottobre, these were initially thought to be fake tourist pieces, but were later substantiated to have been produced for use by one of the many factional groups that are characteristic of Afghanistan society. Legit examples are in the white and unmarked. Examples have been encountered with darkened blades and spurious Winchester markings added. These latter pieces are considered fakes.

The bayonet is entirely of Afghan production. The leather scabbard body is of Afghan production; however, the steel mounts are of British manufacture, reused from a Pattern 1888 scabbard. The topmount has the same Birmingham viewer's (inspector's) mark as on this Canadian P1888 bayonet's scabbard.

Scabbard (topmount): crown over "B" over "63" (Birmingham viewer's mark)