Pictures (click to enlarge) |
Type | Description | Blade Length |
Overall Length |
Muzzle |
Markings | |||
in. | mm. | in. | mm. | in. | mm. | ||||
AK47 |
Knife bayonet for use with the pistolet maszynowy Kałasznikowa (pmK) [Kalashnikov submachine gun], a Polish variant of the 7.62 mm. Kalashnikov AK47 assault rifle adopted ca. 1957.
A copy of the Russian 6X2 bayonet, the Polish bayonet has dark brown grip scales. The Polish scabbard is unique in not having the flattened tip and in its use of a detachable all-leather belt hanger. This example was made in 1958 by Fabryka Broni, Radom. The leather belt hanger measures 4.25 in. (108 mm.) long by 0.875 in. (22 mm.) wide. |
8.00 |
203 | 12.25 |
311 | .695 |
17.7 | Crosspiece (left): "11" inside an oval. Crosspiece (right): "1958" Lower Tang: "A05617" |
|
AK47 | This example is of a quantity produced in 1970 by Fabryka Broni, Radom.
The maker mark and date on these are on opposite sides vs. the earlier example above. This example's leather belt hanger is of all-riveted construction vs. stitched construction. Note how they simply glued a leather disk over the underside of the thorn in place of the flap on the stitched type. The leather belt hanger measures 4.50 in. (114 mm.) long by 0.875 in. (22 mm.) wide. |
8.00 | 203 | 12.25 | 311 | .695 | 17.7 | Crosspiece (left): "1970" Crosspiece (right): "11" inside an oval. Lower Tang: "741" |
|
6H3 (AKM Type I) | Knife bayonet for use with the karabinek AKM (kbk AKM) [Modernized Kalashnikov Carbine], a Polish variant of the 7.62 mm. Kalashnikov AKM assault rifle adopted ca. 1965.
The 6H3 bayonet is less often encountered than the more common Polish 6H4 (AKM Type II) bayonet. A copy of the Russian 6X3 bayonet, the 6H3 differs by the absence of saw teeth on the blade spine. The polymer grip can be either brown, orange, or black (this example is brown). The tooled tan leather retention strap has a sewn loop vs. other AKM bayonets which secure the retention strap loop with a steel rivet or buckle. The stitching is in an hourglass pattern. The tooled tan leather belt loop measures 3.625 in. (92 mm.) long by 0.500 in. (12.7 mm.) wide. |
5.75 | 146 | 10.75 | 273 | .695 | 17.7 | Scabbard (body): "06267"
Scabbard (wire-cutter): "S" and "X" inspection marks |
|
6H3 (AKM Type I) | This 6H3 example has the black grip. The grip plastic is actually a brownish-black with red flecks.
The tooled tan leather retention strap has a sewn loop vs. other AKM bayonets which secure the retention strap loop with a steel rivet or buckle. The stitching is in an hourglass pattern. The tooled tan leather belt loop measures 3.375 in. (86 mm.) long by 0.625 in. (15.3 mm.) wide. |
5.75 | 146 | 10.75 | 273 | .595 | 17.7 | Crosspiece (left): "14106"
Crosspiece (right): inspection marks Scabbard (body): "13167" Scabbard (wire-cutter): inspection marks |
|
6H4 (AKM Type II Transitional) | Knife bayonet for use with the 7.62 mm. kbk AKM; as well as the caliber 5.45×39 mm. karabinek wzór 1988 Tantal (carbine model 1988 Tantalum) and 5.56 mm. NATO caliber karabinek szturmowy wz. 1996 Beryl [assault carbine model 1996 Beryllium].
Adopted ca. 1972, the 6H4 bayonet was produced in large quantity, which likely influenced Poland’s continued use of the 6H4 bayonet today. A copy of the Russian 6X4 bayonet, it differs by the absence of saw teeth on the blade spine. The Polish AKM Type II bayonet represents a transition between the AKM Type I and Type II bayonets, mating the Type I scabbard with the Type II bayonet. The tooled tan leather belt loop measures 3.375 in. (86 mm.) long by 0.625 in. (15.8 mm.) wide. |
5.75 | 146 | 10.75 | 273 | .695 | 17.7 | Crosspiece (left): "1592" Crosspiece (right): diamond (inspector's mark) Pommel: diamond (inspector's mark) Scabbard (body): "1592" Scabbard (wire-cutter) "S" Scabbard (wire-cutter anvil): diamond (inspector's mark) |
|
Wz85 Fencing Bayonet | Fencing bayonet utilizing the 6H4 (AKM Type II) hilt, mated to a spring-loaded rubber-pointed blade.
The blade retracts when thrust against a fencing target and rebounds when withdrawn. The blade may also be retracted and secured by a sliding crossbolt for storage. Designated Wzór 85 (Model 1985), they were made by Fabryka Broni, Radom ca. 1985–88. This example was made in 1987. |
5.50 | 140 | 12.25 | 311 | .695 | 17.7 | Pommel (left): "11" inside an oval.
Pommel (end): "Nr. 03969" over "1987" |
|
6H4 Beryl (AKM Type II Transitional) | Knife bayonet for use with the 5.56 mm. NATO caliber karabinek szturmowy wz. 1996 Beryl [assault carbine model 1996 Beryllium].
Also mounts to the caliber 5.45×39 mm. karabinek wzór 1988 Tantal [carbine model 1988 Tantalum] and 7.62 mm. karabinek AKM (kbk AKM) [Modernized Kalashnikov Carbine]. This bayonet is believed to have been introduced c. 2010. Its construction differs from the previous 6H4 in that the grip is permanently fused to the tang. As shown in the comparison image at left, this eliminates the flat steel pedestal behind the muzzle ring. It also eliminates the need to pin the grip in place (note the absence of plugs or indentions on the sides of the grip). The tradeoff of these manufacturing simplifications is that the bayonet is no longer repairable. This construction method was developed by the Russians in 1986, but was not put into mass production due to their adoption of the 6X5 bayonet. Small numbers have began making their way to the USA since 2016. Adopted in 1997, following its invitation to join NATO (Poland was officially granted accession into NATO in 1999), the Beryl is a Polish 5.56mm assault rifle, designed and produced by the Łucznik Arms Factory in Radom. 80,000 are believed to have been produced. The rifle is to replace the 7.62×39mm AKM and 5.45×39mm Tantal used in the Polish Armed Forces. The Tantal is a 5.45×39 mm. assault rifle designed and produced in Poland in the late 1980s. 25,000 were produced 1989–1994. The Tantal was withdrawn from service in 2005, with some retained in storage. |
5.875 | 149 | 10.75 | 273 | .695 | 17.7 | None. | |
MOLLE Frog | Brownish/Green nylon web bayonet frog to allow the 6H4 (AKM Type II) bayonet to be carried on modern MOLLE load bearing equipment.
The MOLLE load-bearing system is the western standard, variations of which are used by the USA, Canada (Tactical Vest), Britain, and many other NATO countries. MOLLE = MOdular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment. The frog measures 5.25 in. (133 mm.) long by 1.125 in. (29 mm.) wide. This frog was not classified by Carter. |
n/a | n/a | n/a | None. | ||||
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