to bottom, a sample of German bayonets that utilized the standard
pattern ersatz scabbard for socket bayonets. The top two bayonets
are captured Russian M91 socket bayonets. The bottom two are
German ersatz bayonets produced with blades from obsolete
British P53 socket married to an all steel ersatz hilt and
grip. All three scabbard bodies are identical, however, a
different throat insert was used to match the blade of each
another shot of the same grouping showing the scabbard throats.
are four bayonets for the Russian Model 1891 Three-line Rifle.
The two bayonets in the center are Austro-Hungarian manufactured
ersatz bayonets. Note the slight differences in the socket
length, the elbow dimensions and the length of the blades.
The two outside bayonets are standard Russian issue.
a detailed shot of the mounting slots of a standard Russian
bayonet compared to the Austro-Hungarian produced ersatz pattern.
The Austro-Hungarian ersatz bayonet is easily identified by
the straight mounting slot. Russian bayonets were produced
with zigzag slots requiring a rotation of the bayonet to allow
the front sight base to track the slot when mounting the bayonet
on the rifle. Both patterns incorporated locking rings to
firmly attach the bayonet to the rifle.
shows the difference in the configurations of the elbow between
the Russian issue bayonet on the right and the Austro-Hungarian
version on the left. Note the difference in the termination
point of the fluting of the two blades.
shows the location of the markings on two different Austro-Hungarian
ersatz bayonets. The bayonet on the left is marked with a
double-headed Imperial eagle, while the bayonet on the right
is marked E.A.IX, which stands for Erzeugungs.Abteilung IX.
This in turn translates as Production Department 9. This is
the department within the Artilleriezeug-Fabrik Plant, more
commonly referred to simply as AZF, which produced the majority
of these bayonets. The slight differences found within the
population of surviving examples of this ersatz bayonet confirm
it manufacture by a variety of different firms.
a detailed shot of the double-headed Imperial eagle. The serial
number of this bayonet is also partially visible. Some of
these bayonets are found with both the Imperial eagle as well
as the E.A. IX marking, while other examples have only one
mark or the other
shows a close up of the E.A. IX marking from the AZF plant.
a shot of the straight slot Austro-Hungarian bayonet mounted
on a captured M91 Three-line rifle.