Iraqi bayonets added to my collection
Posted: Thu Oct 07, 2021 12:10 am
I recently acquired these and thought I'd share. One is obviously a German-origin AKM Type 1 with a red "125" in Arabic on one side of the scabbard and an Iraqi Air Force roundel stamp on the other. The roundel is a stylized Arabic letter representing "Army", but I am not sure what the two stars under the triangle represent. You never know with the authenticity of these, but I've never seen one with the roundel. There are no serial numbers etched anywhere on the bayonet or scabbard in typical German style, so I'm leaning toward authentic German supplied to Iraq.
The other bayonet is an AKM Type 2, nearly identical to a Yugo except for the color and long serial number typical of the Iraqi-made versions. The matching serial number is on both the bayonet and scabbard and the font is in keeping with the other examples I have seen on this site. The hanger is the Yugo type, even down to the clasping direction, although it seems that is not really indicative of Iraqi origin or not. The grip strap uses the larger rivet that has been linked to those made in Iraq. I think the color variation between the bayonet grip and the scabbard is very interesting. Surprisingly, this one was being advertised as Russian type 2, so I got it for a good price.




The other bayonet is an AKM Type 2, nearly identical to a Yugo except for the color and long serial number typical of the Iraqi-made versions. The matching serial number is on both the bayonet and scabbard and the font is in keeping with the other examples I have seen on this site. The hanger is the Yugo type, even down to the clasping direction, although it seems that is not really indicative of Iraqi origin or not. The grip strap uses the larger rivet that has been linked to those made in Iraq. I think the color variation between the bayonet grip and the scabbard is very interesting. Surprisingly, this one was being advertised as Russian type 2, so I got it for a good price.



