Trials with long bayonet for Swedish Mauser m/1896

© Per Holmbäck

Last updated 2012-05-11
Contents
Trials with long bayonet for Mauser rifle m/1896
Bayonet models
Sword bayonet, long blade, short pommel (type 2)
Sword bayonet, long blade, short pommel (type 4)
Sword bayonet, long blade, long pommel (type 1)
Knivbajonett, medium length blade, short pommel (type 2)
Knivbajonett, medium length blade, long pommel (type 1)
Knivbajonett, medium length blade, long pommel (type 3)
Knivbajonett, short blade, long pommel
Knivbajonett, short blade, short pommel
Serial numbers
References and comments

Trials with long bayonet for Mauser rifle m/1896

In General Order (“generalorder”) number 943 from the 6th of July 1916 “trials with an altered bayonet for the infantry rifle” was ordered. Trials should be performed at infantry regiments I.1, I.18 and I.19.
That order had been preceded with several years of experiments with a longer bayonet for both the carbine m/94 and the rifle m/96.  In connection with the adaption of a bayonet for the carbine several bayonets with longer blades were tested, mainly for the Navy. The Navy requirements did for instance result in the adaption of 400 sword bayonets m/1867 for the carbine m/94.  Eventually the sword bayonet m/1915 was approved in the 18th of January 1915.

Several trials with a longer bayonet for the rifle m/1896 were also performed. Two blade lengths combined with the current mounting (m/97) were initially tested. There was several blade designs of each length, all of these could be seen on the excellent museum “Vapentekniska Muséet” in Eskilstuna, that now is shut down.

There were however two basic problems with this design

1)       The mounting of the blade in the hilt with a split tang was not strong enough to support a long blade. The design of the mounting was too weak as well.

2)       Firing with the bayonet mounted resulted in the shoot group being changed too much! This was a problem already with the old bayonet, but it was accelerated with the longer blade bayonets.

One way to solve the lowering of the shoot group was to reduce the coupling of the bayonet and the barrel, i.e. make the muzzle ring larger. This however was not possible with the current mounting. Experiments were now made with a longer stud to insert into the hollow hilt of the m/1896 bayonet. This design was however both vulnerable and impractical, and was rejected quite fast.

In April 1914 it was suggested that a completely new hilt was the solution. The hilt was of “German model” with wooden grips and a TO-slot.
In a PM from the 29th June 1915 an improvement of the “German model” is suggested (and delivered to the war department) . 14 examples of this bayonet had been tested with good result, and continued trials was recommended. The production cost for this model was estimated to 10.35 SEK per bayonet.

The following bayonet types should be produced and tested. They are divided into two main groups; A – the muzzle ring is tight connected to the barrel, B – The muzzle ring leaves the barrel free:

A1

The bayonet has a 47 cm single-edged blade.
The locking mechanism has a short stud.

A2

 The bayonet has a 30 cm double-edged blade.
The locking mechanism has a short stud.

B

The bayonet has a 30 cm double-edged blade.
The locking mechanism stud is about 1, 5 times longer than A1 or A2.
The muzzle ring is slightly oval (or larger) to leave the barrel free


On the picture is it clearly shown how the bayonet with the longer slot has an oval muzzle ring,
and the bayonet with a shorter slot has a round muzzle ring,
After General Order 934 was issued, 7 rifles each of type; A1, A2 and B was ordered. Two bayonets and rifles of each model should be issued to the infantry regiments I.1, I.18 and I.19 each. One bayonet and rifle of each type should be issued to the shooting school at Rosersberg.

The results of the trials were reported in 25th January 1916 by Carl Gustaf Stads factory. To summarize the trials all infantry regiments preferred the long bayonet, while the shooting school preferred the medium long bayonet. 
As a summary the long bayonet A1 was recommended prior to A2 and B, all of them better than the current bayonet m/1896. In the same report it was also recommended that

1)       20 more bayonets of type A2 should be manufactured.

2)       26 bayonets of type B should be manufactured in two types, B1 and B2.

B1

As B but with a tight muzzle ring.

B2

As B but with a wider/oval muzzle ring

 

I have no knowledge of how many bayonets of each was made, if the recommendation was followed or other numbers were made.
A number of long bayonets according to model B have been observed, so there is very likely a continuation here.
Unfortunately none of these, in my eyes beautiful bayonets, were approved!

Bayonet models

This figure shows the different types of hilts on the long bayonets observed. 
Type 4 has only been seen in one example and is probably a single experimental model.  
The short knife bayonets are not included in this figure





Sword bayonet, long blade, short pommel (type 2)

OAL 600
 BL 475
 MRD  15,5
Production    Carl Gustaf Stad
Weapon              Modified rifle m/1896




Description:

Sword bayonet with single edged blade with a fuller. Steel scabbard that looks like the scabbard of bayonet m/1915, but it is shorter. The scabbard is locked just liked the m/1915 scabbard.
The hilt has a short pommel with 27 mm slot, 50 mm between grip plate bolts.
Round muzzle ring.
Type 2 in the figure above
.

Markings:

Serial number

On the pommel, guard and scabbard.

Maker

Crowned ‘C on the ricasso

Inspection markings

No inspection marks



Sword bayonet, long blade, short pommel  (type 4)

OAL 600
 BL 475
 MRD  15,5
Production    Carl Gustaf Stad
Weapon              Modified rifle m/1896




Description:

Sword bayonet with single edged blade with a fuller. Steel scabbard that looks like the scabbard of bayonet m/1915, but it is shorter. The scabbard is locked just liked the m/1915 scabbard.
The hilt has a short pommel with 27 mm slot, 50 mm between grip plate bolts.
Round muzzle ring.
Type 4 in the figure above. This bayonet has probably only been made in one example. The observed bayonet has # 10 on the pommel and no other markings. The scabbard is riveted on one side only; the others are riveted on both sides.

Marking:

Serial number

On the pommel.

Maker

Crowned ‘C on the ricasso

Inspection markings

No inspection marks



Sword bayonet, long blade, long pommel  (type 1)

OAL 590
 BL 475
 MRD  15,5  – 17,5 
Production    Eskilstuna Järnmanufactur AB
Weapon              Modified rifle m/1896





Description:

Sword bayonet with single edged blade with a fuller. Steel scabbard that looks like the scabbard of bayonet m/1915, but it is shorter. The scabbard is locked just liked the m/1915 scabbard.
The hilt has a long pommel with 38 mm slot, 40 mm between grip plate bolts.
Oval  muzzle ring.
Type 1 in the figure above.

Marking:

Serial number

On the pommel, guard and scabbard.

Maker

Anchor (EJ AB) on the edge side of the blade.

Inspection markings

No inspection marks           





Knife bayonet, medium length blade, short pommel  (type 2)

OAL 448
 BL 333
 MRD  15,5
Production    Eskilstuna Järnmanufactur AB
Weapon              Modified rifle m/1896


Description:

Knife bayonet with a double edged blade.
The bayonet has a short pommel with a 27 mm slot, 50 mm between the grip bolts.
Round muzzle ring, diameter 15,5 mm.
The scabbard is of same model as an early m/1914 scabbard.
Type 2 in the figure above.

Marking:

Serial number

On the pommel, guard and scabbard.

Maker

Anchor (EJ AB) on the back of the blade

Inspection markings

No inspection marks



Knife bayonet, medium length blade, long pommel (type 1)

OAL 448
 BL 333
 MRD  15,5  – 17,5 
Production    Eskilstuna Järnmanufactur AB
Weapon              Modified rifle m/1896


Description:

Knife bayonet with a double edged blade.
The bayonet has a long pommel with a 38 mm slot, 40 mm between the grip bolts.
Oval muzzle ring, horizontal diameter 15,8 mm vertical diameter 17,5 mm.
The scabbard is of same model as an early m/1914 scabbard.
Type 1 in the figure above

Marking:

Serial number

On the pommel, guard and scabbard.

 

Maker

EJ (Anchor) AB on the back of the blade

 

Inspection markings

No inspection marks

 

Övrig märkning

 Has been found with ‘+’ on the back side of the blade

 

Knife bayonet, medium length blade, long pommel  (type 3)

OAL 448
 BL 333
 MRD  15,5  – 17,5 
Production    Eskilstuna Järnmanufactur AB
Weapon              Modified rifle m/1896


Picture © Armémuseum, AM.30753

Description:

Knife bayonet with a double edged blade.
The bayonet has a long pommel with a 38 mm slot, 50 mm between the grip bolts.
Oval muzzle ring, horizontal diameter 15,8 mm vertical diameter 17,5 mm.
The scabbard is of same model as an early m/1914 scabbard.
Type 3 in the figure above

References:

Svevap 1976, “Bajonetten då till nu” #134
Drawing  CG 4/5 1915 XVII b5.
Armémuseum:  AM.030753

Marking:

Serial number

On the pommel, guard and scabbard.

Maker

unknown

Inspection markings

unknown


Knife bayonet, short blade, long pommel

OAL 330
 BL 213
 MRD  15,5  – 17,5 
Production    Carl Gustaf Stad
Weapon              Modified rifle m/1896




Oval muzzle ring.

Description:

Knife baynet with a single edged blade, the same as for the bayonet m/1896 but slightly curved (“banana blade”).
The bayonet has a long pommel with a 38 mm slot and one grip plate bolt.
Oval muzzle ring, horizontal diameter 15,8 mm vertical diameter 17,5 mm.
The scabbard is of same model as the m/1896 scabbard.

References:

Armémuseum:  AM.029476

Marking:

Serial number

On the pommel, guard, ricasso and the scabbard.

Maker

Crowned ’C’ on the ricasso

Inspection markings

No inspection marks


Knife bayonet, short blade, short pommel

OAL 330
 BL 213
 MRD  15,5  – 17,5 
Production    Carl Gustaf Stad
Weapon              Modified rifle m/1896


Picture © Armémuseum, AM.30754

Description:

Knife bayonet with a single edged blade, the same blade as for the bayonet m/1896 but it is slightly curved (“banana blade”).
The bayonet has a short pommel with a 38 mm slot and one grip plate bolt.
Round muzzle ring.
This seems to be a modified m/1896 bayonet.
The scabbard is of same model as the m/1896 scabbard.

References:

Armémuseum:  AM.030754

Marking:

Serial number

No information.

Maker

Crowned ‘C’ on the ricasso

Inspection markings

No information

Serial numbers

The following serial number has been observed.

#

Kort typ 1

Kort typ 2

Kort typ 3

Lång typ 1

Lång typ 2

Lång typ 4

Kort balja

Lång balja

5

X1





9
  
  
 X  
  
  
  
  

10

 

X

13

 



X

17

X
 




20

 

X



22

X1

  




24

 
 X



28

 

X


30

 



X

34

X
 




36

 



X

40

 

X



47

 

X



51

 


X

67

 



X
75  
  
  
 X  
  
  
  
87  
  
  
 
 
  
 X

94

 



X

100

 

X



102

 

X



 1)       On the same bajonet

The author would like to receive information about further serial numbers, and would greatly appreciate if collectors that has information about this sends me a mail.

Referenser och kommentarer

See the Swedish section.


© Per Holmbäck