The bayonet-knife for a Kalashnikov assault rifle for its 62-year history was produced in several modifications. In 1949, the AK-47 was officially adopted by the Soviet Union. 4 years later, in 1953, the first bayonet of the 47th Kalash appeared. Officially, the AK-47 bayonet-knife was designated as the 26-X-212 model, or “6 × 2 product”. The first instance of the bayonet for the AK-47 had a spear-shaped blade, was sharpened on one side, and there were dales on both surfaces of the bayonet to facilitate construction.
The history of the development of edged weapons in the USSR
It is known that the Red Army were armed with Mosin rifles, the design of which did not provide for the presence of a bayonet at all. Later, on their basis, a carbine was created, which was equipped with a bayonet of a tetrahedral cross - section of a removable type design Komarnitsky-Kabakov. It had the name "bayonet 1891-1930". The wounds received in battle from him did not heal for a long time and were very painful.
Later, in 1936, the Red Army received the ABC-36 (Simonov rifle), which was equipped with a knife-cleaver. After 2 years, the SVT-38 was adopted for service ─ Tokarev’s famous self-loading. She immediately liked the infantry, and already in 1940 the SVT-40 was released. The steel of the bayonet-knife for this rifle was blued and very durable.
The blade was equal to 240 mm in length and 25 mm in width. Due to the presence of the ring, the bayonet was mounted on the barrel of the gun.
Considering the bayonet-knives of the Second World War, it is necessary to recall the bayonet for self-loading of designers Rakov and Bulkin, the development of which took place in 1940. The blade to this weapon was particularly durable, but the rifle was not adopted, so only a few experimental samples remained.
There was also an ersatz bayonet, or, as it was also called, "blockade", which was issued in Leningrad during the blockade. It was used together with the Mosin rifle and was mounted similarly to Komarnitsky’s blade.
Modernization of the bayonet-knife AK-47
The prototype of the first AK-47 bayonet-knife model was a blade mounted on the SVT-40. The new bayonet of a Kalashnikov assault rifle had some similarities with the Tokarevsky blade, but there were also differences in fixation on the barrel.
In addition, the knife handle consisted of two adjacent plastic cheeks and had a square section.
The AKM bayonet-knife is very easy to put on the barrel of the machine due to the presence of a ring and a latch with a spring. The total length of the product is 315 mm, while the blade was 205 mm, and its width was 22 mm. The adjoining knife on the machine was located in such a way that its blade was turned upside down and looked up, while using the “6 × 2 product” as a cutting tool was extremely inconvenient due to the unsuccessful handle design. Therefore, the first model of the bayonet in service did not stay long. As an army cold steel, the AK-47 bayonet-knife (its price is now about $ 80) is in demand among connoisseurs of antiques and ancient weapons.
About the prototype of the modern AK bayonet-knife model
The next model of a combat knife for a Kalashnikov assault rifle was an army bayonet knife, which was called the “6 × 3 product”. He was immediately accepted into service with the USSR Army in 1959. A knife was used as a prototype of this blade. It was adopted shortly before by the naval scouts, whose development belongs to Lieutenant Colonel Navy Todorov M. Already in 1956, naval intelligence used it as a combat unit .
This edged weapon was equipped with a technological hole and a special sheath design, so that it was possible to cut thick steel wire and even electric wires, since the handle and scabbard were insulators. Nails could be sawn with this knife, since there were notches in the form of a saw on the edge. Now the total length of the bayonet was 280 mm, and the dimensions of the blade were 150 × 30 mm. The knife has become much more convenient to use due to a significant change in size compared to the previous version.
About later knife models
The bayonet-knife AK-47 had a sheath made of steel, as well as a canvas tarp, thanks to which the weapon was hung on a uniform belt. The use of the scabbard as an auxiliary element for performing a number of works significantly increased the capabilities of knives. The additional functionality of the bayonet-knife greatly facilitated and accelerated the performance of combat missions of army units.
After the “troika”, the “6x4 product” model appeared. Actually, it was an AKM bayonet-knife, and a little later they began to apply it to the AK-74. At the same time, it was somewhat different from the previous version in that the shape of the handle was changed, and the sheath began to be made of impact-resistant plastic. In addition, a special emphasis was constructed under the barrel of the machine, to which a bayonet-knife adjoined. Melee weapons were now single-edged, with a slightly shortened blade with a strongly pointed end.
The presence of a file on the blade allows you to easily cut steel bars. The scabbard also has a special oval-shaped pin and a curved neckline. Thanks to this, the bayonet can serve as scissors and bite through steel wire. The total length of the “6x4 product” was 10 mm shorter than the previous model. Modifications of 1959 knives were also used on SVD.
The last of the Mohicans
The 1989 army bayonet-knife was the last in this family. The “6 × 5 Product” was used as a melee weapon for close combat in the AK-74 models of all modifications, the AK-100, and the Nikonov assault rifle (94 years of production). Do not forget that more modern issues of SVD were also equipped with the "five". If we compare the bayonet-knife AK-47 and the “6 × 5 product”, we can trace what modifications it has undergone for many years.
First of all, the latest model of the knife differs from previous versions in a sharper form of the blade, which has a matte finish. Serious improvements were made to the handle of the product.
Now the AKM bayonet has become much more convenient to hold in the hand thanks to the presence of transverse thickenings on the handle. In addition, the sheath and handle excluded the possibility of breaking the plastic part, since they were made of heavy - duty glass-filled polyamide. The length of the product is 260 mm, the blade is 160 mm, and its width is 29 mm. The bayonet-knife AK-47, as well as all subsequent models, has a characteristic feature, which is that the diameter of the ring on the knife has not changed and is 17.7 mm on all modifications.
6x2 product in practice
The bayonet-knife AK-47 (photo above) has established itself as a reliable and extremely convenient weapon for waging hand-to-hand combat. The knife has incorporated the best elements of Soviet combat knives. He sits comfortably in his hand, and the length of the blade of this product was not chosen by chance ─ the knife balances perfectly when working with it.
Interestingly, the steel of the blade of this model is much milder than later modifications. In this regard, the bayonet-knife AK-47 of the USSR does not break when conducting a knife fight, and also withstands strong blows and falls on a hard surface. Initially, it was not supposed that the 47th bayonet model would be used for biting wire or cutting metal, so there are no special design solutions in it. But, being both on the machine and in the hand of a fighter, it equally well hits the enemy.
"Finca" ─ one of the prototypes of the army bayonet-knives
Russian warriors have always been famous for their ability to engage in hand-to-hand combat and perfect command of knives. When the cartridges were running out, the Soviet soldier always had the last hope ─ -40, a 1940 reconnaissance knife. Yes, this is the very famous “finca” that terrified the enemy. The design of the “intelligence knife” was largely borrowed from the Finnish knife Puukko. “Finca” very quickly gained popularity in the Soviet Union, and soon the knife was adopted.
It was made of durable steel, had a compact size and was very convenient to use. In pre-revolutionary Russia, this knife was produced in huge quantities. Particularly popular were the Vachin "finishes", which were manufactured in the Nizhny Novgorod region at the Trud factory. The popularity of the blade has reached unprecedented heights. It began to be widely used in criminal circles of Soviet Russia, and already at the beginning of 1930, almost everyone had such a knife. By the beginning of 1935, a ban was introduced on the manufacture, storage and carrying of weapons, including cold weapons.
About the famous "NKVD knife"
Ordinary Soviet citizens were forbidden to carry knives. However, this did not apply to party workers and employees of the NKVD, who in 1935 received Finnish knives produced by Vachin craftsmen as special equipment for self-defense. One of the models of Swedish knives from Holmberg was taken as the basis for the production of these knives.
"Holmberg Finnish" were banned by the state for use by their population. On both sides of the knife there are dales, and in front of the handle is a guard. The product handle was carbolite. It was believed that this knife was very convenient when working in close combat and while holding it with various grips. The NKVD Knife served as a prototype of the cold steel of Soviet soldiers in early 1940.
"Cherry" for scouts
Despite the fact that the NA-40 was adopted by the USSR, knives were sorely lacking by the start of the war. The Soviet paratroopers and scouts were especially in dire need of a high-quality knife. Therefore, in 1943, appeared "Cherry" ─ knife HP-43. His prototype was the “intelligence knife” of 1940. A little later, the handle and blade of the knife became somewhat longer.
The wooden handle was soon replaced by a plastic one with a steel tip. The length of the product was 270 mm, and the blade was 158 mm. "Cherry" was embedded in a leather scabbard that could be hung on a belt. After the war ended, many countries adopted the “intelligence knife” as a model for the manufacture of knives for their power units.
History has not sunk into oblivion
The famous army knives NA-40 and HP-43 "Cherry" have been in the arsenal of the Soviet Army for quite some time. The army knife of 1940 was used as a weapon until the mid-60s of the last century, and the 43rd Cherry is still used in a number of power structures in Russia.
HP-43 was very popular, which was taken into account by manufacturers of modern edged weapons. For example, the Versailles Saro plant produces the HP-2000 product, the prototype of which was the famous Cherry.
"Division of black knives"
In 1943, at the Zlatoust Tool Plant, workers made a batch of blades, which was an almost exact copy of the 40th model of an army knife. However, these knives differed from the NA-40 in that they had a black color. 3356 copies of the blades were handed over to the soldiers of the volunteer corps of tankers in the Urals.
When the soldiers arrived at the front, they were immediately called the “black knife division” by German intelligence because of the unusual color of the scabbard and hilt. The fighters of the "Schwarz Messer Division" fought desperately in battles. For military merits, the volunteer corps of tankers received the title of "Guards".
General requirements for combat army knives
To facilitate hand-to-hand combat, all combat knives should have double-sided sharpening of the blade. It is desirable that its shape be leaf-shaped, which increases the effectiveness of strikes to the enemy. The width of the combat knife should not be less than 30 mm, since it is the wide blade that enhances the cutting quality of the product.
In order to avoid slipping hands on the blade, it is necessary that the handle be equipped with a guard or limiter. The scabbard should hold the blade securely without fasteners of various types, so that, if necessary, the knife is easily reached with a quick movement of the hand. The mass of the knife for hand-to-hand combat should not exceed 300 gr. Since army models are designed to perform combat missions, which often involve the destruction of the enemy, the combat weapon must be adapted to throwing. Therefore, the strength of weapon steel plays an important role here.