Stupid AK-47 bayonet question

[Anna's Dad]

Let me start by saying I still know little about the AK that I recently purchased so I appologize for asking what is likely a dumb question.

I purchased a Yugo Underfolder. It has a slant flash hider installed. The locking pin orients the flash hider in such a way that the more open side of the slant is towards the top of the rifle (although a little off center).

The rifle has a bayonet lug so I tried to install a bayonet recently. It installs no trouble, but if I try to put the steel sheath on the bayonet it hits the flash hider!

If I turn the flash hider so that the more open side faces downward (towards the bayonet) the sheath goes on fine. The problem there is, of course, that the flash hider is no longer locked by the pin.

Am I missing something or do I just have a bayonet that is incompatible with my rifle?

I bought the bayonet used, but it looks like this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Romanian-AK-47-Bayonet/dp/B0009S886Q

Thanks for any help.

 

[JesseL]

My best guess is that the bayonet was not intended to be sheathed while it's mounted on the rifle. I would think the the sheath was intended to be worn on a belt and when you want to mount the bayonet, you pull it out of the sheath and stick it on the rifle.

 

[pdowg881]

Yup. And if the flash hider your talking about is a slant brake then turning the open end to face down would defeat the purpose.

 

[wally]

I think the command "fix bayonets!" assumes you'll be leaving the sheath on your belt! The AK sheath comes off your belt and a protrusion on it hooks into a slot near the blade tip to make a wire cutter.

--wally.

 

[Picard]

The sheath isn't supposed to be on the bayonet when it's on the rifle. Don't worry, nothing is wrong with your gun. The Romanian Bayonets were made to the same specs as the Yugo AK's. I have a solid stock Yugo AK so I know what you're talking about.

 

[DPris]

Only time I ever saw a sheath on a fixed bayonet was during riot control training in the AF back just when we were switching over to those newfangled metal airplanes they use today.
We worked on formations with blades fixed (and sheaths tied on to avoid anybody getting hurt) on empty M16s. Idea was that the rifles would be loaded & the blades right out in the open for real maneuvers.
I'm not aware of any military anywhere that expected the bayonet sheath to be carried anyplace but on the belt as a hanger for the blade until it was time for the bayonet & the barrel to meet. But, admittedly I don't get around as much as I used to...
Denis

 

[Kharn]

The flashhider is supposed to point off to one side slightly, due to the AK's tendancy to pull sideways during rapidfire.

Kharn

 

[Anna's Dad]

Thank you everyone.

I figured it would be designed to allow the sheath to be used while on the gun for safety purposes when it wasn't immediately needed. Shows you what I know.

I was going to just keep the bayonet mounted on the gun all of the time. Given what I have learned, I guess I'll just leave it in the box!

Also, thanks Kharn--I was darn curious why it was slightly off center.

Thanks again.

 

[DPris]

Since the fixed bayonet was more of a liability than an asset anytime other than in an immediately anticipated nose to nose engagement, it was never routinely carried mounted on the barrel. Even with a scabbard attached, it does nothing but extend the length of the rifle & get in the way.
During the past 60 years bayonet tactics have largely disappeared from the battlefield, and if you even carried one as a grunt, it'd be hung on the belt until or unless needed.
150 years ago, a bayonet (improvised pike) charge was still a reality once you fired your one & only shot in a volley at an advancing force. It's totally last ditch now.
Denis

 

[Killermonkey21]

Hell, they don't even issue us bayonets over here anymore. They're a high-value item and have to accounted for. break the tip and you can get charged for it. Plus, they're reeeaaaallly big and bulky (M16 version anyway) so its definitely not cost effective.