Much easier and cheaper to manufacture than the AK47, production and use of the AKM went worldwide.

Among other things, the updated AK47 variant included a bayonet lug. The AK47 bayonet was produced by: Bulgaria, China, East Germany, Indonesia, North Korea, Poland, and Russia (shown above). Although adequate, the dual muzzle-ring arrangement made the AK47 bayonet awkward, at best, for any other use. Both the AK47 bayonet and scabbard were patterned after Russia's first knife bayonet, the M1940 bayonet used with the 7.62 mm. The AK47 bayonet hilt borrows heavily from the Swedish M1914 bayonet, another example where the bayonet was added as an afterthought. Having a change of mind, in 1955, the Russians opted for a bayonet. The AK47 was Russia's entry in this debate, being designed without the intent that it mount a bayonet. Without a single exception, every one was redesigned to accept a bayonet or or replaced with a rifle that did within a few years of its introduction. In the decade following the outbreak of the Second World War, most of the major powers produced an infantry rifle without the ability to mount a bayonet. The AK47 assault rifle was introduced during a period in history when the bayonet's future was in debate. Most AK bayonets conform to four basic types: The AK47 Bayonet 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. This page is by no means exhaustive, but covers 53 different AK bayonets from 15 countries, including some unique and less common examples.Ī 2018 article entitled, Bayonet evolution. This page provides a type-specific approach for identifying AK47, AKM, and AK74 bayonets, as an alternative to the country-specific index. Some are unique, but most differ in only minor details.

A bewildering number of variations exist. Many countries manufactured the Kalashnikov and produced bayonets. As FN's superb FAL assault rifle became 'the free world's right arm,' the Kalashnikov AK47 and AKM became 'the third world's favorite arm.' Its use expanded far beyond the Soviet Union, from where it originated.

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