Republic of China (Nationalist 1912–1949 / Taiwan 1949–present)

These all-metal bayonets are believed to have been produced in Belgium following the First World War for export to the Republic of China. This example appears to utilize a Pattern 1853-style triangular blade. The blade is unmarked, so it is unclear whether it was salvaged from an earlier socket bayonet or newly manufactured in the 1920s, when this bayonet was assembled.

The hilt was originally painted black, however, only traces of the paint remain.

Zhong Zheng Shi rifles and bayonets were made from approximately 1935–1945. Total production is believed to be approximately 360,000. They saw extensive use during the Second Sino-Japanese War that began in 1937 and led to the outbreak of World War II in the Pacific.

Crude design and construction compared to the M1924 Mauser Export bayonet. More typical of Chinese manufacturing of the period, where much of the work was done by hand. The scabbard for these were typically leather, so most did not survive the hard use these bayonets experienced.

This is an actual Japanese Type 30 blade mated to a Chinese Zhong Zheng Shi hilt. The fit and finish are quite high by Chinese standards and the grip screws are set in oval Japanese escutcheons.

The T65 bayonet is a clone of the U.S. M7, with an extra long blade. It is somewhat more crudely-made than US bayonets. Although the general appearance is that of a U.S. M7 bayonet and U.S. M8A1 scabbard, there are differences. In addition to being longer, the blade is more slender than the U.S. M7. At first blush, the scabbard appears to have a tip protector, like U.S. M8A1 scabbards. However, the scabbard is all plastic, just giving the appearance of a tip protector.

Click on the photo at left to see a T65 bayonet exported to Panama.

The blade is patterned after the U.S. M4 Bayonet-Knife. Leather grip with knurled pommel which fits into a special adaptor on the rifle. The scabbard is made of green unreinforced plastic with a green web belt hanger.

I cannot find any references to verify this is an officially issued bayonet, so consider it a commercial piece. However, I corresponded with a Norwegian collector in 2021 who had an example bearing a two-digit serial number (22) on the guard and a property marking on the scabbard's belt hanger.

People's Republic of China (1949–present)

Provenance obtained with the bayonet indicates that this example was obtained in Battambong, Cambodia, in 1998, from a former Khmer Rouge soldier. Research indicates that it was most likely issued to the anti-Vietnamese forces of the Khmer People's National Liberation Front (KPNLF) and the Khmer Rouge via United Nations convoys over the Thailand border in 1979.

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A copy of the Russian 6X2 bayonet, these bayonets were made for shipment with exported Type 56 (AK47) rifles only. Rifles used by the People's Liberation Army had the permanently-attached folding spike bayonet shown above.

The scabbard has an integral web belt hanger with a hilt strap secured with a glove fastener. The web belt hanger measures 3.625 in. (92 mm.) long x 0.875 in. (22 mm.) wide.

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.

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Essentially, a copy of the Russian 6X4 (AKM Type II) bayonet, except that the sawback and wire-cutter features have been eliminated.

This example has a black plastic grip and scabbard body. This example also has the chromed steel belt hanger provided on the earliest U.S. imports.

There is no evidence that the People's Liberation Army ever used this bayonet.

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6.00

This example is serialized, indicating that it was shipped along with an AKM rifle.

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The olive color is almost indistinguishable from black under room lighting, but the difference becomes apparent outdoors in daylight. The photos at left show the color as it appears in daylight. Next to a black example, the color difference is readily apparent.

The story behind origin of the olive green variant remains a mystery. The most prevalent theories are that these were made to go with rifles imported by Clayco, one of the earliest USA importers of Chinese AKM rifles; or that the green color occurred by accident. Hopefully, further research will clarify the origin of this unusual variant.

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Although the Type 81 borrows from the Type 56 Rifle (AK47), Type 56 Carbine (SKS), and Dragunov designs, it is a totally new rifle. As a result, the Type 81 bayonet will not mount to any other Kalashnikov rifle.

Unlike the Chinese AK47 and AKM Type II bayonets, above, that were manufactured solely for commercial sale, the Type 81 bayonet is used in quantity by the Peoples' Liberation Army (PLA).

The bayonet's red-brown polymer grip, double-fullered blade, and green plastic scabbard are distinctive and make for an attractive design. When these were first imported to the U.S. in the mid-2000s, they did not sell well. U.S. importer, Paragon Sales, modified some by bushing the muzzle ring and welding a plate to the pommel, enabling them to mount to the U.S. M1 Carbine.

The Type 81 rifle was produced from ca. 1983 into the mid-1990s, as development of the Type 95 rifle neared completion. This example is of recent manufacture, produced for commercial sale.

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The QBZ-87 rifle was to be an improved Type 81, but also introduced a new 5.8 x 42 mm. cartridge. The rifle was judged to not offer sufficient advantages over the Type 81 to merit its adoption. However, the 5.8 mm. cartridge proved to be an excellent performer, such that a new rifle was designed around the new cartridge and adopted as the QBZ-95. The bayonet used with the QBZ-95 is a copy of the U.S. M9 bayonet.

The bayonet offers the wire cutter, sawback, and symmetrical blade profile of the Russian AK74 bayonet, along with a detachable belt hanger design similar to some GMS-produced KCB-77 bayonets. The hilt design is very similar to the Type 81 bayonet. The scabbard's wire-cutter design also includes a can-opener.

Following a decision not to adopt the QBZ-87, the remaining bayonets were recalled and destroyed. Very few made it into private hands. Originals had the sawback on the lower blade edge and the scabbard had a green web belt hanger. This example with the sawback on the upper edge and scabbard with a tan belt hanger is a reproduction of recent manufacture, produced for commercial sale.

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