AKM Type I Bayonet

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	Weapon: AKM Type I Bayonet Type: Knife Bayonet Country of Origin: USSR Year Adopted: 1959 Overall Length (mm): 385.0 Overall Length (in): 15.16 Weight (kg): 0.45 Weight (pounds): 0.99

The AKM Type I bayonet was the first standardized bayonet developed for the Soviet AKM assault rifle, introduced in the late 1950s. It featured a distinctive spear-point blade approximately 150 mm (5.9 inches) long, with a clipped point and a sharpened false edge. The design included a hollow, plastic-insulated handle and a steel crossguard with a muzzle ring for mounting. Notably, it was the first bayonet to feature a multi-purpose design-when paired with its steel scabbard, it could function as a wire cutter, a major innovation that set a new standard for military bayonets.

Production of the Type I bayonet began around 1959 in the Soviet Union and was quickly adopted by Warsaw Pact nations and other Soviet-aligned countries. Large numbers were manufactured at factories such as Izhevsk Mechanical Plant (Izhmash), with millions produced over the following decades. Some countries, including East Germany, Bulgaria, and China, produced localized variants of the Type I bayonet under license or with minor modifications. Due to its mass adoption and durability, the Type I became one of the most widely distributed bayonets in the world.

The AKM Type I bayonet saw widespread service during the Cold War, used in numerous conflicts across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Its combination of combat functionality and field utility made it especially popular among conscript armies. Though eventually succeeded by the more modern AK-74 Type II bayonet, the Type I remains in service in many countries and is a highly recognizable symbol of Soviet-era military design. Today, it is a sought-after collector's item and a notable example of Cold War-era weapons engineering.