A total of 41,360 were reported produced at Kongsberg Våpenfabrikk (Kongsberg Weapons Factory) from 1916–1926. 31,000 were made for the M1894 rifles and 12,160 for the M1912 carbines. This example's serial number corresponds to a M1894 rifle made in 1917.

The ricasso markings are the royal cypher of King Haakon 7 and the Kongsberg Våpenfabrikk factory mark.

MAP records document that the U.S. provided 72,801 M1 rifles to Norway between 1950 and 1963. According to Per Holmback, 5,000 converted bayonets were delivered to the Hærens Våpentekniske Korps (Army Weapons Technical Corps) in April 1957.

The scabbard was also converted to add a wire belt hanger for use with the U.S. web equipment belt. A much larger number of scabbards were converted, because German M1884/98 III bayonets were also used with Kar 98k rifles by the Norwegian military forces. The Norwegian railroad still carries Kar 98k rifles in the engineer's compartment of their locomotives for dispatching animals struck on the tracks.

This bayonet and scabbard were originally made by the German firm Carl Eickhorn of Solingen.

The Norwegian M4 bayonet is closely patterned after the Wartime U.S. M4 Bayonet-Knife, with the narrow crosspiece and grooved leather grip. Similar in appearance and quality of manufacture to its U.S. cousin, the markings are uniquely Norwegian.

The scabbard is a clone of the U.S. M8A1, before introduction of the metal tip protector. The Norwegian scabbard is marked "U.S. M8A1" in outline letters, however, it was manufactured entirely in Norway.

Production is believed to have began circa 1954 at Kongsberg Våpenfabrikk (Kongsberg Weapons Factory). Both bayonet and scabbard carry the Crown-K factory stamp.

Pommel: Crown-K

Scabbard: "U.S. M8A1" over Crown-K

The Norwegian AG3 Type 1 bayonet differs from the German G3 bayonet in having a 0.5 in. (13 mm.) shorter hilt. The shorter hilt and narrow crosspiece keep the hilt behind the rifle's flash-hider, eliminating the need for a steel flashguard.

The blade is patterned after the U.S. M4 bayonet-knife. The ungrooved, oval, stippled green plastic grip is unique among G3 bayonets. The press catch is at the 9 O'clock position and lacks the serrations found on other G3 bayonets. It has a plain narrow crosspiece.

The scabbard is patterned after the U.S. M8A1. Early examples had a woodgrain colored plastic body with a metal tip protector. This example is a later type, with a green plastic body and large leg-tie hole characteristic of A. Eickhorn GmbH, Solingen (AES) production.

The earliest examples were made by Carl Eickhorn Waffenfabrik in Germany. Subsequent production was at Kongsberg Våpenfabrikk (Kongsberg Weapons Factory), initially, by rehilting M4 bayonet blades. Kongsberg Våpenfabrikk later produced bayonets with new-made blades. This example is likely an Eickhorn, as it does not bear the Kongsberg factory stamp.

The AG3 rifle entered Norwegian Army (Hæren) service in 1967, with 250,000 made at Kongsberg Våpenfabrikk by the time production ceased in 1974. The AG3 was phased out of army service following adoption of the HK416 rifle in 2007, but is still used by Home Guard (Heimevernet) units.

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.

G3 and CETME Bayonets Page

The blade is patterned after the U.S. M4 bayonet-knife and has a plum hue. It has a 7-groove olive green plastic grip with an integral pommel. The press catch is at the 9 O'clock position. It has a half-notched crosspiece, although the scabbard does not have the locking device.

The scabbard is patterned after the U.S. M8A1, with a green plastic body and large leg-tie hole. This example still has the restraining lace.

The Norwegian AG3 Type 2 bayonets were produced in the 1990s by AES in Germany as replacements.

G3 and CETME Bayonets Page