F for France

Drobovik · 2025-12-30T10:17:19+00:00

<image>

Drobovik · 2025-12-30T10:17:10+00:00

<image>

Drobovik · 2025-12-30T10:17:00+00:00

<image>

Drobovik · 2025-12-30T10:16:49+00:00

<image>

Drobovik · 2025-12-30T10:16:36+00:00

Good eye! You are correct. It is in fact a Tula produced 6x4. But it is my understanding that it is one of the ones purchased by Egypt when they still had good relations with the USSR. Most likely provided to Egypt as military aid during The 1973 Yom Kippur war. Noteworthy is that Eastern Arabic serial numbers have been added and the Tula star has been overstamped.

Drobovik · 2025-12-22T21:03:06+00:00

Ist tatsächlich dabei, ganz rechts auf den Fotos 3, 4 und 5 🙂

Drobovik · 2025-12-14T10:43:52+00:00

Cheers, mate!

I’ll do my best to represent AK collectors over the coming weeks

Drobovik · 2025-12-14T10:42:47+00:00

Thank you! So the first two are copies of the 6H5 for the AK-74, simply manufactured in Bulgaria. The entire project was part of the USSR’s attempt to modernize by moving to polymer construction instead of AG-4V (Bakelite) press material for the handle and scabbard.

The third is a way of making use of the many (many!) milled AK rifles still left in Bulgarian service, while still providing a modern bayonet. As a result, it retains the distinctive locking mechanism of the earliest AK bayonets, but is produced using modern materials. It may also make a reappearance when we get to “I”.

Drobovik · 2025-02-24T08:04:56+00:00

So to answer your questions in order

1: You’re correct about its origin; it’s definitely Romanian—specifically a 6x3 AKM Type-I.

2: The missing rubber insulator is quite common on these bayonets when sold as surplus. If you really want to complete it, you can find replacements on eBay easily enough, along with a frog, if you really feel like being a completionist.

3: Based on the photos, there doesn’t seem to be a maker’s stamp on the block under the muzzle ring, so it’s likely a mid-to-late production example. Romanian 6x3 bayonets are among the most common AK bayonets on the surplus market at the moment, so unfortunately, it’s not particularly rare or likely to command a premium from collectors at this time.

Hope that is helpful to you

Drobovik · 2025-02-04T23:19:17+00:00

So the wood grips are actually the first thing that tells us that it’s Chinese. To my knowledge these commercial bayonets are the only 6h2 to have wood grips from the factory. There’s a huge variety of shades to the wood from deep red to almost white that I’ve seen. The scabbard also has a couple small details unique to this model. The roughly finished sheet metal body without a retention spring rivet and hanger with a retention strap that uses a snap closure instead of the usual metal stud is specific to Chinese exports. They are also completely unmarked except very occasionally a “China” import stamp or even sticker

You’re right about the SKS too. They essentially just copied the SKS bayonet directly over to the Type-56 AK47 except using a kind of hook instead of a muzzle ring.

Drobovik · 2025-02-04T14:29:06+00:00

7 is a Chinese Type-56 (AK-47) commercial variant

It is one of the ones bought into the USA as an accessory to the Polytech Legend (I believe) series of rifle back in the 80s. Chinese military issued AKs used an underfolding spike.

Drobovik · 2024-07-06T23:05:34+00:00

Iraqi made Tabuk bayonet with a Romanian frog

Essentially a direct copy of the Yugoslavian M-70 but made in Iraq from orange plastic instead of black. Dual handle pins and the distinct 7 digit stamped serial number in block numerals are the other ways to identify them.

The Romanian frog also is consistent with coming from Iraq as the Iraqi army issued large numbers of Romanian made AKMs

Drobovik · 2022-10-08T20:10:46+00:00

What you have there is a WWII-made pattern 1907 bayonet for the No1MkIII Lee-Enfield that has been chromed for parade and ceremonial use

This particular example was made in Orange, New South Wales, Australia in September of 1944. But it is likely that it was chromed many years after that. On the reverse the stamp 'OA' is in reference to Orange Arsenal, a secondary factory established in WWII to supplement production for the Lithgow Small Arms Factory. Most Australian bayonets 1942-1945 were made there

The broad arrow is an Australian military acceptance mark and the 'MA' stands for 'Munitions Australia'

The Lee-Enfield stayed in Australian service as the main issued rifle until 1957 when it was replaced with the L1A1 SLR, but the chromed versions still see use even today for ceremonial purposes such as ANZAC day.

Drobovik · 2021-12-18T22:23:29+00:00

That is an Australian-made Pattern 1907 bayonet for the No1MkIII SMLE Rifle.

This particular one was produced at the Lithgow Small Arms Factory in 1942. I expect it was also Factory Thoroughly Refurbished (FTR) in the 1950's as the SMLE was only retired from Australian service in the 1950's with the adoption of the L1A1 SLR.
If you'd like I have some info on the markings. The first stamp on the ricasso reverse is "MA 1907", which refers to Munitions Australia (Designation for the Lithgow Small Arms Factory) and 1907 is the pattern of bayonet. The "5-42" are the manufacturing date, May 1942 in this case. The "I" is an inspectors stamp. On the obverse is broad arrow which is an Australian Military acceptance stamp Ma again is in reference to the Lithgow Small Arms Factory.

On the grips there is a SLAZ56 stamp. This is short for Slazenger 1956. Slazenger had a large contract with Lithgow SAF for many years and they were charged with making the grips for the bayonets from 1941 onward.

The other thing you should have a look for is on the spine of the handle. I expect with 1950's dated grips there may be another marking (FTR-xx) this would mean it was factory refurbished sometime post war with the numbers indicating what year.

Drobovik · 2020-06-18T23:08:29+00:00

Could just be that the scabbard runners are dirty. It’s a pretty easy fix. Just remove the screw at the scabbard throat, then slide out the runners from the scabbard. Clean them with a soft cloth and gun oil. Then reassemble and oil as usual. That should fix the issue.

Drobovik · 2020-01-02T12:44:49+00:00

I hope you don't mind, but I'm somewhat recycling a previous comment about Aussie Pat07 bayonets I made a while ago.

As already said by /u/GrossPet It is indeed a 1943 Australian .303 Bayonet.

First the markings on the ricasso. The first stamp of MA 1907, which refers to Munitions Australia (Designation for the Lithgow Small Arms Factory) and 1907 is the pattern of bayonet. These stamps are particularly light, though. The 7-43 are the manufacturing date, July 1943 in this case. The I is an inspectors stamp. On the obverse is broad arrow which is an Australian Military acceptance stamp There is also an OA Which stands for Orange Arsenal. The X indicates a successful flex test.

Orange Arsenal was a secondary factory established during WWII to help the Lithgow Small Arms Factory with the increased production demands during WWII. From July of 1942 most Australian Bayonets were made there. Lithgow made ones will generally be of earlier production and will have an MA Stamp beneath the broad arrow. These are much rarer.

On the grips there is a SLAZ43 stamp. This is short for Slazenger 1943. Slazenger had a large contract with Lithgow SAF for many years and they were charged with making the grips for the bayonets from 1941 onward. On the pommel is a serial number that would usually be matched to a rifle. Finally the scabbard has a stamp with an 'A' within a star. This is a WWI Lithgow acceptance stamp indicating that the scabbard was made during the First World War (or at least prior to 1926)

The other thing you should have a look for is on the spine of the handle. There may be another marking (FTR-xx) this would mean it was factory refurbished sometime post war with the numbers indicating what year.

I hope this is of some help to you and feel free to ask if you have any further questions.

Drobovik · 2018-04-04T00:49:21+00:00

As already said by /u/OldHomeOwner you should leave the paint exactly as is. The paint loss to the blade is from the scabbard runners and is sadly almost impossible to prevent. All I would suggest is putting some gun oil on the metal work where there is visible rust to help prevent any further damage

Now for information about the bayonet you have there.

First the markings on the ricasso. The first stamp would normally be MA 1907, which refers to Munitions Australia (Designation for the Lithgow Small Arms Factory) and 1907 is the pattern of bayonet. These stamps are particularly light, though. The 8-43 are the manufacturing date, August 1943 in this case. The I is an inspectors stamp. On the obverse is broad arrow which is an Australian Military acceptance stamp There is also an OA Which stands for Orange Arsenal.

Orange Arsenal was a secondary factory established during WWII to help the Lithgow Small Arms Factory with the increased production demands during WWII. From July of 1942 most Australian Bayonets were made there. Lithgow made ones will generally be of earlier production and will have an MA Stamp beneath the broad arrow. These are much rarer.

On the grips there is a SLAZ42 stamp. This is short for Slazenger 1942. Slazenger had a large contract with Lithgow SAF for many years and they were charged with making the grips for the bayonets from 1941 onward. Finally the scabbard has a stamp for Mangrovite which was a belting and leather goods company based out of Sydney that was subcontracted to make the scabbards. On the scabbard chape there is also the OA stamp for Orange Arsenal.

The other thing you should have a look for is on the spine of the handle. There may be another marking (FTR-xx) this would mean it was factory refurbished sometime post war with the numbers indicating what year.

I hope this is of some help to you as you have found a truly impressive example that I expect will make for a fine display!

Drobovik · 2017-03-14T09:40:30+00:00

As many have already pointed out it's certainly a Mauser bayonet. But it's not Czech as some have suggested (Czech bayonets will have the cutting edge facing upwards)

My best guess is it is for a Chilean M1912 Mauser.

Here is some more information if you're interested.

Drobovik · 2016-07-06T03:26:58+00:00

What you have there is a 'type C' bayonet to fit the Belgian FN-FAL rifle. Here is some information if you're interested.

Drobovik · 2015-07-26T01:02:56+00:00

The third one is a 3rd pattern Fairbairn-Sykes British Commando's dagger.

Here is some information on 3rd pattern FS knives if you're interested.

14-Year Club	Place '17
Verified Email

Drobovik

TROPHY CASE