Chinese Type 56 Folding Spike Bayonet

[Mr. B.]

Martin,

You are correct. The Albanians did make their own version, ASh78, after importing various Chinese Type 56s. They also assembled them from an assortment of Albanian and Chinese parts before making there own completely (?). The main differences were minor and mostly in the front sight base, which to me is not part of the bayonet. There may also be minor differences in the bayonet blade and hilt, but difficult to tell from the pictures. Below are borrowed pictures from a reference and an actual rifle, (from a kit?). The question remains did they manufacture there own bayonet blades and hilts or just use the Chinese ones that were available.

Mike

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12750171_1704784299776410_582902973_n (3).jpg (52.58 KiB) Viewed 13645 times

[Mr. B.]

Here are a few more pictures of the Albanian Type ASh78, (Type 56) with the folding spike bayonet. Mike

[ilian]

thanks Mike!

[Mr. B.]

Here are more pictures of the Albanian AKM folding spike bayonet compared to a Chinese Type 56 version. The top ones are Chinese and the lower ones are Albanian. Mike

[Mr. B.]

I have had some questions about how the Chinese add-on / clamp-on folding spike bayonet fits on a Type 56 without the regular folding spike assembly. Just clamping it on is only temporary. To correctly install it would require removing and replacing the rear front sight assembly retaining pin with a longer one. The barrel must also be threaded at the muzzle and have a standard muzzle protector nut to support the muzzle ring on the bayonet when extended. The lower wood hand guard must either have a standard blade slot or be modified to accept the blade when retracted. I hope these pictures help illustrate how it works. These bayonets were sold as a semi-permanent add on for the rifles made and sold without the original folding bayonets. Mike

Chinese clamp on spike 1 (3).jpg (49.95 KiB) Viewed 5603 times

[CarlosC]

I used to have one of those on my MAK-90, until I debanned the entire gun.

Here are some old pics I have of the clamp-on installed. I bought mine new and it came in a plastic bag with Chinese writing. One of the drawbacks of the clamp-on bayonet was that the cleaning rod would "walk" forward when the gun was fired because there was nothing to keep it in place. I solved the problem on my MAK-90 by slipping a piece of vacuum line on the cleaning rod shaft, which you can see in the pics below.


My debanned MAK-90 today, with the permanent bayonet assembly.

[Mr. B.]

We may have found a what we suspect is an Albanian AK47 folding spike bayonet!? Check it out here: viewtopic.php?t=492 Mike