This is a Cold War era AKM Type I Bayonet. These bayonets were developed in Russia and were produced in East Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Russia.
The AKM was an updated variant of the AK47 assault rifle and was introduced in 1960. The AKM Type I bayonet was a ground breaking design, incorporating a number of features that made it an incredibly versatile weapon and tool.
The 148mm single-edged, un-fullered blade has a saw tooth section on the spine, leading to a false upper edge and a sharp clip point. The blade has a window cut through it to enable it to be combined with the scabbard to function as a wire cutter. The blade is also made of stainless steel, making it impervious to rust.
The one-piece moulded plastic grip and pommel is tough and very durable and the grip is in good condition. The press-stud locking mechanism is in good working order. The blackened cross piece bears the scratched issue number GR4235, probably corresponding to the rifle with which it was issued.
The steel scabbard body has a lug at the point that engages with the window cut into the blade enabling the false top edge of the bayonet and scabbard to become a wire cutter. The scabbard body originally would have had a rubber insulator, making it safe to cut electrified wire. The rubber insulator is missing from the scabbard. The bayonet sheathes and draws smoothly and is held firmly within the scabbard.
This is a good example of a ground breaking Cold War designed Communist bayonet.
