This example was made during the Second World War by the Crown Corporation Small Arms Ltd., Long Branch, Ontario, Canada. According to Skennerton, Longbranch made approximately 910,000 bayonets 1942–1944.

No. 4 Spike Bayonets page

These were the last No. 4 socket bayonets produced and the only No. 4’s to carry the distinctive Canadian Arsenals Ltd. trademark.

No. 4 Spike Bayonets page

Originally manufactured in Liege for Schelswig-Holstein rebels, these rifles were taken by the Danish Government and altered at Kronborg 1853–55 for use by Danish forces. They were subsequently converted to the Snider breech loading system at Copenhagen in 1866. Bayonets were made in both Denmark and Belgium.

The unit marking on the socket identifies the 20th Infantry battalion, 4th Company, Weapon No. 136.

Unique locking spring designed by Johan Christian Wilken Kyhl (pronounced, 'cool') and first introduced in 1794.  The Kyhl spring catch was used on Danish bayonets from 1794–1860 and also on bayonets made by Norwegian and Prussian makers.

According to Per Holmback, noted authority on Scandinavian bayonets, approximately 12,000 of these weapons were taken over by the Danish Army after 1851 (from the Schleswig-Holstein rebels) and converted in 1854. The marking "SH XV B 186" stands for Schleswig Holstein 15th Battalion, weapon 186.

Originally made in 1880, this Pattern 1876 bayonet was modified ca. 1903–08 at the Arsenal established at the Citadel of Saladin in Cairo following British occupation in 1882. Modifications include bushing the socket to reduce diameter and cutting away the bridge to clear the Martini-Enfield’s tall front sight. This modification did not alter the bayonet's original mortise, so the bayonet continued to fix at the right side of the barrel.

The socket length is 3.00 in. (76 mm.).

The Citadel Arsenal modification is a simpler approach vs. the Pattern 1876 bayonets modified at RSAF Enfield to create the Pattern 1895. The Enfield modification involved compressing the socket to the smaller diameter, filling the original mortise, and cutting a new mortise 90 degrees from the original to allow the bayonet to hang underneath the barrel when fixed.

The socket length is 2.812 in. (71 mm.).

The 2.625 in. (67 mm.) long socket is cut for a bottom stud. The fuller is shallow, as wide as the blade, and squared off where it terminates at the ricasso.  The locking ring has a distinctive profile when viewed end-on. The M1847 also introduced the tapered blade shoulder, which the U.S. adopted for its M1855 bayonet.

The acceptance marking on the elbow is consistent with other known Liege, Belgium makers' acceptance marks. The identity of the maker represented by "NL" is not known. The ricasso marking is believed to identify the forger. The identity of the forger represented by "OM" is not known.

Bayonets of this type were imported to the U.S. during the American Civil War to go with the 140,000 French muskets and Belgian copies purchased by the U.S. Ordnance Department.

Shank: crown over cyrillic characters

This bayonet bears a resemblance to the Type C socket bayonet used on some variants of the Belgian FN–FAL assault rifle. The 22 mm. socket diameter allows firing of the NATO-standard 22 mm. rifle grenades.

The 530 was S.I.G.'s first 5.56 mm. rifle, developed during the late 1960s, but never produced in quantity. In the 1970s, the 530 gave rise to a family of S.I.G. assault rifles: the 540 (5.56 mm. rifle); 542 (7.62 mm. rifle); and, 543 (5.56 mm. carbine).

The S.I.G. 540 family were produced under license in France by MANURHIN (Manufacture de Machines du Haut Rhin) from 1978–88.  France adopted the S.I.G. 540 as an interim infantry weapon, until the FAMAS rifle was available in sufficient numbers. 

These rifles were exported to many countries, including:  Bolivia, Central African Republic, Chad, Djibouti, Ecuador, Gabon, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Jordan, Lebanon, Mauritius. Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Paraguay, Seychelles, Swaziland, and Togo. Rifles of the S.I.G. 540 family were also manufactured under license in Chile and Portugal for their armed forces.

Identification of this example is somewhat speculative. The socket and elbow are consistent with Bavarian bayonets of the early 1800s, such as those used with the Bavarian Infanteriegewehr Models 1801 through 1826.

Influenced by the French Charleville musket, the Model 1801 was introduced to Bavaria by Jakob Graf von Manson. Manson reformed and modernized Bavarian arms following Maximilian Joseph's ascendancy to rule as Elector of Bavaria in 1799, then King in 1806.

Bavarian sockets of the early 1800s were typically manufactured with a cruciform blade. This example appears to have had the upper rib ground away to create a triangular blade profile, as evidenced by the odd way in which the shank meets the blade.

The starburst mark on the elbow is typically attributed to Austria. However, the mark on this example differs from what is typically observed on Austrian bayonets.

Socket length is 2.785 in. (71 mm.). Blade width is 25 mm. (1.00 in.).

These are frequently encountered in the USA, owing to the M1809 musket’s use during the U.S. Civil War. The bayonet is unusual in that it lacks the mortise commonly found on socket bayonets. The mounting system was developed by Austria 1798–1799, incorporating a spring on the musket which engages the notch on the bayonet’s socket collar. The unfullered triangular blade and longer 3.00 in. (76 mm.) socket distinguishes the M1809 from the later M1839 bayonet.

Patterned after the French M1777 Charleville musket and designated the “New Prussian Musket,” these were made into the 1830s at the Prussian state arsenals. Commonly referred to by collectors as the “Potsdam musket,” they were made at a half-dozen arsenals, Potsdam being one of them. Many were altered to percussion during the 1840s and stored in war reserves as Prussian regulars were equipped with the M1841 Dreyse needle-fire rifle.

In 1861, the Union purchased 165,000 Prussian arms, most of which were obsolete smoothbore M1809 percussion muskets. Most saw service in the Western Theatre. By the end of 1862, these arms had served their purpose and were soon replaced with more modern rifled weapons.

Shank: Crown-O

Elbow: Crown-O

This example was made by A. Eickhorn GmbH of Solingen (AES). This example has temporary export markings "Solingen Germany", suggesting that it was produced following reunification in 1989.

Eickhorn constructed the socket by forging upper and lower halves using a drop hammer. Hot metal was poured in between the halves, to make the complete blank, which was machined to create the tubular socket. The sprue line is evident in the pictures at left.

The scabbard body is plastic, with an integral web belt hanger. The hilt strap's stippled glove fastener is characteristic of Eickhorn products.

Most Belgian FAL Type C bayonets had a drawn socket, although FN also used casting near the end of FAL production. These images of the FN (top) and AES (bottom) show differences that distinguish the two makers' production.

FN-FAL Bayonets Page

Scabbard (body): "Solingen" over "Germany"

The M1891/30 was Russia's standard service rifle during the Second World War and was used extensively post-War by Warsaw Pact countries.

Approximately 220,000 rifles were manufactured 1950–53 by Femaru Fegyver es Gepgyar Reszvenytarsasag (F.E.G.), making these bayonets somewhat scarce. The post-war Hungarian bayonets exhibit notably better workmanship than their Russian cousins and and a blued finish.

The Toradar was used in the Mughal Empire, which encompassed much of present-day India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran.

Essentially a socket bayonet without a socket, the unique design accommodates the Toradar’s belled muzzle, which precludes use of a conventional socket bayonet. The bayonet is pinned to the stock through the small holes at the rear of the sidearms. The hinged muzzle ring encircles the barrel and is pinned in place. A wrapping around the sidearms and barrel completes securing of the bayonet.

The bayonet is short, owing to the very long Damascus-steel barrel typical of the Toradar. Many bayonets are ornately decorated, however, this example is plain and utilitarian, suggesting military use. The reinforced swell-point enables the bayonet to pierce chain-mail armor, which was still worn in the Mughal Empire during the mid-1700s. This example dates to that period, ca. 1750.

This copy of the Windus Pattern 1771 socket bayonet would have been locally made in India for use by the armed forces of one of the Indian States. The socket features a spring that secures the bayonet to the musket's bayonet stud.

Lieutenant Colonel Edward Windus simplified the Brown Bess musket in 1771 to facilitate its manufacture by the British East India Company. The simplified musket was subsequently adopted by Britain in 1793 as the India Pattern Brown Bess.

During the British Colonial Period, Indian states were semi-autonomous monarchies on the Indian subcontinent. Each had a local or regional ruler that was ultimately subject to the British Crown. Approximately 60 percent of the Indian subcontinent was comprised of provinces under direct British rule, while 40 percent was comprised of indirectly-ruled Indian States. The states had internal autonomy, while Britain had authority over the states' external affairs. Each state had its own armed force, which was primarily relegated to local policing and ceremonial duties under restrictions imposed by the British Crown.

Probably made 1845–1860 in India, it is of somewhat cruder construction than the British-made version.

This 2nd Type example lacks the D–shaped knuckle guard found on the 1st Type.

The socket length is 4.00 in. (102 mm.).

This example was originally made ca. 1800 for use with the India Pattern Brown Bess musket. Following British adoption of the Pattern 1853 rifle-musket, many colonial flintlock arms were converted to percussion ignition. The original smoothbore barrels were left in place, so the existing bayonets were modified by brazing a locking ring collar and stop pin to the socket; and installing the locking ring. The socket length measures 4.00 in. (102 mm.). The muzzle length measures 2.00 in. (51 mm.).

The policy of continuing to equip Indian Army units with smoothbore arms long after their obsolescence arose in the aftermath of the Indian Rebellion of 1857 (Sepoy Rebellion). The Rebellion also led to dissolution of the British East India Company. The Company was largely blamed for allowing issues in the Company's private army to fester and spiral out of control, resulting in a year-long conflict that left 100,000 Indians dead. The Crown swiftly retaliated by nationalizing the Company in 1858; seizing its powers, property, and private army.

This bayonet likely had a service life of nearly 100 years, during which polishing and repair obliterated any markings that once may have been present.

This example has Arabic markings on the socket. Most likely Jordanian from the Arab Legion, but could also have been used by Iraq.

Prior to obtaining independence in 1946, Jordan was a British Protectorate, known as Transjordan.

The British No. 4 Mk. II* socket bayonet was also used in Iraq during the Second World War and by the Iraqi Army after the end of British occupation in 1947.

Socket (right) "VNS"

Socket (right): 

"à gh" over "1 9 h"

This and the following example are from a 43-ton cache of weaponry removed from the Royal Nepalese Armory at the Palace of Lagan Silekhana in 2003. Near Katmandu, the Armory housed more than 50,000 firearms; over 150 ancient bronze cannon; tens of thousands of bayonets; and all manner of tools and accessories. The Nepalese were thrifty in the extreme. From the 1830’s onward, it was as if the Armory threw nothing away. Read more about the "Nepal Cache" and my experience breathing new life into a Pattern 1853 Enfield rifle-musket.

A crude copy of the British Pattern 1876 bayonet, with a larger diameter socket. The Gahendra and Francotte barrels had thicker walls than the Martini-Henry, making the outside diameter too large to accept the British Pattern 1876 bayonet.

The scabbard is of British manufacture, for the Pattern 1876 bayonet, as evidenced by the War Department acceptance mark.

The Nepalese “Francotte” copied an improved Martini-Henry design by Belgian maker August Francotte and dating to 1877. The Nepalese rifles used Francotte’s detachable trigger and firing mechanism, but without Francotte’s patented cocking indicator. The Nepalese Francotte rifles suffered from poor metallurgy and other defects, so were not a successful design.

The “Gahendra” is named after its developer, Nepalese military engineer General Gahendra Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana. The Gahendra rifle was based on an 1869 Westley Richards patented design, but incorporated its own detachable trigger and firing mechanism. The Gahendra’s distinctive underlever has a downward-curving loop and attaches to the action in front of the trigger.

The quality of manufacture was improved over the Francotte, and was considered a successful design. The number produced is not known.  However, a report dated 1906 indicated that 8,983 Gahendra rifles were still on hand.  In addition to the rifle that bears his name, Gahendra also developed the Bira gun, a contemporary of the rapid-fire Gatling and Gardner guns.

The Beaumont was an early, single-shot bolt-action rifle. In 1881, Beaumont rifles were converted into repeaters by adding the, then revolutionary, Vitali box magazine. This was the first use of a box magazine on a military rifle. The Vitali box magazine system was subsequently used by Italy on their Vetterli rifles.

This example is of the first pattern bayonet, with a conventional one-piece iron locking ring. The socket length is 2.625 in. (67 mm.).

According to Dutch bayonet collector/ researcher Erwin Muetstege, the initial design used a conventional, one-piece locking ring made of iron, which was copied from the Snider bayonet. In 1875, the War Department changed to the two-piece locking ring, made of steel.

This example went to New Zealand to equip the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force. The 2nd NZEF fought in the North African and European Theatres as part of the British 8th Army.

Based on serial numbers observed, approximately 35,000 No. 4 bayonets went to New Zealand.

No. 4 Spike Bayonets page