Rare Mannlicher bayonets

[Theodor]

Hi guys, I do not know if these will be interesting for you, but here are two Mannlicher bayonets that can be seen rarely, at least to say!

First, a bayonet for the M88, Bulgarian manufacture. The manufacturing company got the contract from the War Ministry right before Bulgaria entered the WW1. Only a few bayonets were made, when one of the owners - a reserve officer - was called on duty and the very next day KIA. His partner stopped the work and thus made a big ratiry out of those knives:

[Theodor]

The other one started its life as a simple M1895 Austrian bayonet, for the same simple Austrian gun. However, the Serbs took 1000 of these guns and converted them for Mauser rounds. And also filed the makers of the bayonets and stamped their own - the AT3 /ATZ/ mark of the Kraguevatz arsenal. Another rarity!

[AndyB]

Hello Theodor,thanks very much for adding of this nice items, certainly the first one is very rare, could You provide the name of the maker? Thanks, the other one is a M95M and to so scarse,while they made postwar large bunch of captured Mannlicher M95 rifles to 7.92, AT3 is a stamp of Kragujevac typical for 1923-31 period.best regards,Andy

[Theodor]

Hi Andy, it is Avramov and Kovachev, Gabrovo. It was a factory for knives, many different types of knives. But this was their first military production, so far all was for the civil market. According to the popular story, when kovachev was killed at the frontline, Avramov decided this was a punishment from god, because they produce tools for war, for killing - bayonets. And he immediately stopped that production. That is what I know. Also, be warned, fakes do appear from time to time!

[AndyB]

Hello Theodor,thanks very much for the explanation,great piece. best regards,Andy