Patterned after the French M1777 AN IX socket bayonet (AN IX represents Year 9 in the French Republican Calendar, denoting an improvement introduced in 1800), the Russian Model 1808 bayonet is unusual in having a medial locking ring on an unbridged socket. Russia adopted an improved bayonet in 1826–28 that included a bridge to prevent deformation of the socket. The unbridged socket dates this example to 1808–1825. There was no scabbard produced, the bayonet remaining fixed to the musket at all times.

The Model 1808 was the standard Russian Army infantry musket and bayonet in the Napoleonic Wars, seeing extensive combat during Napoleon’s 1812 Invasion of Russia. In response to the invasion, Tula Arsenal produced 500,000 Model 1808 muskets 1812–15. The Invasion of Russia was the turning point in the Napoleonic Wars that ended Napoleon’s invincibility. The Battle of Borodino outside of Moscow was the deadliest single day of combat during the 12-years of Napoleonic War, resulting in over 70,000 casualties. Napoleon’s retreat from Moscow during the Russian winter destroyed what was left of his Army. While Napoleon would rebuild his army and campaign in central Europe in an attempt to regain power, these attempts failed culminating in his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo and forced exile to St. Helena in 1815.

Patterned after the Swiss M1863 bayonet, the M1870 bayonet has a cruciform blade profile and the, now familiar, screwdriver point. This example is a M1870 infantry bayonet, with the socket cut so as to mount to a bayonet stud on the right side of the barrel. The M1870 dragoon bayonet was shorter, with the socket cut so as to mount to the front sight, which doubled as a bayonet stud.

Developed by American General Hiram Berdan, the M1870 rifle and bayonet were produced in large numbers at the three major Russian arms factories (Tula, Izhevsk, and Sestroretsk). The M1870 served as the standard Russian rifle until it was superseded by the Mosin-Nagant M1891. Many Russian troops were still armed with the M1870 during the Russo-Japanese War of 1905.

Although the M1891/30 had superseded the M1891 by the time Russia entered the Second World War, the M1891 was widely used during the Second World War as well.

From 1915–1917, M1891 socket bayonets were also produced in the USA by Remington Arms Co. in Bridgeport, Connecticut; and, New England Westingouse, in Chicopee Falls, Massachussets.

Russia did not supply a scabbard, preferring that soldiers keep the bayonet fixed all of the time. However, Austria, Finland, Germany, and Romania manufactured scabbards for use with bayonets captured or obtained from the Russians.

This example was made 1930–32 at the Tula Arsenal.

Col. P.K. Panshin designed the sight hood to protect the front sight of rifles used by the cavalry. However, the government decided to make the sight hood standard on all M1891/30 rifles instead.

As a result, few hooded bayonets were produced. Most had the hood removed during the Second World War, since the hooded bayonet would not mount to a hooded rifle. Examples with the hood intact are quite scarce today.

Elbow (left): star and proofmark

Shoulder: "123713"

The M1891/30 bayonet has a press stud to secure the bayonet in place, rather than the locking ring of the M1891.

This example is typical of crude wartime production, with heavy tool marks.

This example was refurbished at the 1st GRAU Arsenal at Balakleya (in present-day Ukraine). GRAU is an abbreviation of Glávnoye rakétno-artilleríyskoye upravléniye Ministérstva oboróny Rossíyskoy Federátsii (Main Missile and Artillery Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation).

Some of the factories represented by refreshment marks have been identified by Russian researcher, Ruslan Chumak.

Russian Refurbishment Markings

The M1940 bayonet is unique in having a sheath surrounding the press stud to prevent the fixed bayonet from being inadvertently detached. This proved a solution to a non-existent problem and was dropped from future Russian designs. This example has gone through arsenal overhaul, as evidenced by the rich deep blued finish. 

The scabbard is of the second type, with the flattened end, rather than a ball finial.  The scabbard has a pigskin leather belt hanger.

The bayonet folds to the right side and stows in a cutout in the rifle's forestock.

This example was made in 1951 at Tula Arsenal. 

The blade folds underneath and stows in a cutout area in the rifle's forestock.

Produced 1955–60 at the Izhevsk Arsenal, Izhevsk, Russia.

The reason for the unusual grip and second partial muzzle ring was that the bayonet was an afterthought, the AK47 not being initially designed to accept a bayonet.

The steel scabbard is a clone of the later M1940 SVT scabbard. Russian scabbards typically have a drain hole on the front side of the scabbard. It has an integral web belt hanger with a leather hilt strap. The olive green web belt hanger measures 4.125 in. (105 mm.) long by 0.50 in. (19 mm.) wide.

AK Bayonets Page

A 2018 article entitled, Bayonet evolution. Bayonet 6X2, 6X3, 6X4 and 6X5 for Kalashnikov assault rifles, by Konstantin Podgornov, has clarified many of the details concerning Russia's development and production of AK bayonets.

Pommel: "1910"

They were produced from 1960–64 at the Izhevsk and Tula Arsenals.

Orange plastic grip. Black steel Type I scabbard has a black rubber insulator for cutting electrified wire. Brown, pebble-grain leather belt hanger and tan web retention strap. The belt hanger measures 3.75 in. (95 mm.) in length.

AK Bayonets Page

Crosspiece (right): "11" inside an oval and an diamond (inspection marks

Muzzle Ring: inspection marks

Guide Lug: triangle (Izhevsk mark)

Scabbard (body): "9130"

This AKM variant represents a transition between the AKM Type I and Type II bayonets, mating the Type I bayonet with the Type II scabbard. Only Russia and East Germany did so.

The brown smooth leather belt hanger measures 3.75 in. (95 mm.) in length.

This example has been reworked, as evidenced by the multiple electropenciled serial numbers. This example was acquired overseas by a U.S. Marine during the Persian Gulf War period (early-mid 1990s).

AK Bayonets Page

The bayonet was made at the Izhevsk Arsenal, while the scabbard was made at the Tula Arsenal. This example is of the second pattern, made 1972–82, in which the crosspiece and pommel are castings.

The tan smooth leather belt hanger measures 3.75 in. (95 mm.) in length.

This example was acquired overseas by a U.S. Marine during the Persian Gulf War period (early-mid 1990s), along with the AKM Type I Transitional bayonet above.

AK Bayonets Page

Grip (left): "1903"

Scabbard Body: star (Tula mark) and "16", and "1444"

This variant was only made at Ishevsk.

Collectors sometimes refer to this variant as having a "lightened" pommel. However, the change was made to simplify machining of the pommel, not to reduce weight.

The brown pebble-grain leather belt hanger measures 3.75 in. (95 mm.) in length.

AK Bayonets Page

Grip (left): "902"

Pommel (left) "2-6"

Scabbard Body: arrow inside triangle (Izhevsk mark) and "706" "51" (mold mark) and inked "OTK 2"

6X5 production began in 1986 and continues to the present day. The 6X5 bayonet is currently in first-line service with the the Russian Army. Early production differed slightly from this example, which was introduced in 1988.

Spear-point blade with a unique cross-section. Black molded polymer grip. Black plastic scabbard has the typical AKM pattern clip-on belt hanger made of black pebble-grain leather. The belt hanger measures 3.75 in. (95 mm.) long.

Under bright light, the grip and scabbard of this example have a purple (or plum) hue. This dark brown polymer was used 1986–91, when Ishevsk began using a true black polymer.

AK Bayonets Page

Ricasso (right): Acceptance mark (inside a rectangle)

Pommel: "8-1: Scabbard (body): "5-1" (mold no.) and inspection mark (silver paint)

Belt Hanger: "5" inside a circle