...not really an accurate headline, but that would be a good name for a rock band. First up, the bayonets - and we'll start with a reverse whatziss - i.e., one where I have no clue but I'm betting you (especially Neffi) do. Here we see, perched on an M1 Garand, a bayonet that to all intents and purposes looks like it should be perched on an M1 - one of the shorter bayonets made for WWII in response to requests from the Infantry School at Fort Benning - and this a later one, new-made to the standard vice a cut-down rework - as evidenced by the fuller not extending all the way to the tip. It bears the AFH makers mark, fits like it should.... except... the mounting ring is huge.
It doesn't fit any of the riot shotguns I'm aware of and the ring and crossguard look like they were made that way - if not, the weld job of the new ring is very well done. It could well be a foreign modification. It came with a bunch of bayonets I bought in bulk (cheep) some time ago - and isn't mentioned in my references.
Next up is in response to MikeD's request from yesterday. This is the bayonet that tasted the Armorer's blood and made him #1 in Google for "I bayoneted myself today."
Now on to barbecue, sorta - and mostly because I'm using a rotisserie to roast QM after his redistributionist comment of yesterday. Oh, and Neffi? That rifle you were positing might be a Vz-24 was a CE 41 (a Mauser made by JP Sauer and Son in 1941 for those to whom that was gibberish) - but the rifle the Most Famous Bayonet In Google is mounted on *is* a rampant lion Vz-24.
Rampant Lion - that sounds like a NATO exercise. Or a good name for a rock band...
It doesn't fit any of the riot shotguns I'm aware of and the ring and crossguard look like they were made that way - if not, the weld job of the new ring is very well done. It could well be a foreign modification. It came with a bunch of bayonets I bought in bulk (cheep) some time ago - and isn't mentioned in my references.Next up is in response to MikeD's request from yesterday. This is the bayonet that tasted the Armorer's blood and made him #1 in Google for "I bayoneted myself today."
[This pic embiggens]
Now on to barbecue, sorta - and mostly because I'm using a rotisserie to roast QM after his redistributionist comment of yesterday. Oh, and Neffi? That rifle you were positing might be a Vz-24 was a CE 41 (a Mauser made by JP Sauer and Son in 1941 for those to whom that was gibberish) - but the rifle the Most Famous Bayonet In Google is mounted on *is* a rampant lion Vz-24.
Rampant Lion - that sounds like a NATO exercise. Or a good name for a rock band...
Could it perhaps be designed to go over a weapon with a grenade adapter?
Does it fit on a jungle carbine? (Yes, I know, it wouldn't BELONG there, but how cool would it be?)
I vote for it being a BM-59 variation of some sort.
Speculation- vice hard knowledge- in the bayonet collecting world is that they also aquired a quantity of finished bayonets never delivered to the gummint due to the end of the war or whatever parts and blades were available in an unfinished state.
These were then modified or completed with a new crossguard to fit the BM59 until manufacture of entirely new Italian bayonets came up to speed...
All the (few) examples I've seen had blades made by American Fork and Hoe; if AFH was the source of the tooling perhaps the bayonets/components were part of a package deal.
Spiff
More with the bayonets ??? How many time do I have to explain to you that I do not like even the mention of bayonets. You are dredging up all the PTSD from my childhood in the Bronx. My kitchenphobia and fear of intimacy meters are now pegged. Even back in Basic Training, when the Drill Sergeant would call out, "What's the purpose of the bayonet?" expecting a "To kill !!!" response, I would think to myself, "Wouldn't it be a tad easier just to bring a lot more ammo ???" And a lot less intrusive also ???
LOL!
BTW, my speculation concerning the VZ24-ish rifle stemmed from the fact the bayonet mounted on it has a muzzle ring... meaning it is *not* a M84/98TIII, the korrect bayonet for a Heer-issued K98K.
Nor is that a bodak 24 on your VZ24, its a humble Yugo M48...
Harrumph grumble mutter
Phil
11B40 - man up, dude. ;^ )
When the Italians adopted the BM59 as their new MBR they aquired the tooling to make the bayonets from one of the US contractors that had manufactured Garand bayonets during WWII, the only difference being a redesigned crossguard with larger muzzle ring.
Speculation- vice hard knowledge- in the bayonet collecting fraternity is the Italians aquired at that time a stock of finished Garand bayonets and/or components from which they produced these hybrids with the new crossguard/muzzle ring until production of newly-made Italian bayonets came up to speed.
All the (few) I've personally handled have had American Fork and Hoe blades; the tooling may well have been aquired from AFH along with an inventory of blades and parts...
Sigh
WIser heads prevailed and decided that humping around an 18 pound rifle and a bunch of ammo was a sufficient load for a soldier and that a bayonet was not needed.
Obviously if a bayonet were needed, John M. Browning would have included provisions for one!
As it should be. You have a rare bit of kit, there -- USMC-issue, for mounting on the barrel of an M1919...
I'm just spitballin here.
Did the sniper/sharpshooter (C or D) version have a muzzle device it might slip over?