M1916 bayonets were produced from 1916-1924 at the national arms factory, Manufacture D'Armes de le Etat (Arms Manufacture of the State) in Liege.

The M1916 bayonet is distinguished from the later M1924, by the tang meeting the crosspiece at a right angle. The M1924 tang curves to meet the crosspiece. Both M1916 and M1924 can be found with 17.5 mm. or 15.5 mm. muzzle rings (the latter for use with the M1935 and M1889/36 Short Rifles).

This example was originally made with a 17.5 mm. muzzle ring and has been bushed down to 15.5 mm. The bushing is clearly visible in one of the images at left.

Crosspiece: "75733"

Pommel: "L" inside a square

Scabbard (frog stud): "75733"

The original blade length was as shown above. The scabbard has been shortened by cutting off the lower portion and neatly brazing a cap on the end.

The "1Ch" crosspiece marking indicates use by the 1st Division de Chasseurs Ardennais (in English, The Ardennes Hunters), one of the most capable Belgian Army units to fight in 1940. The Chasseurs Ardennais were a small, highly mobile infantry force, equipped with light armored vehicles, motorcycles, and bicycles. The Division took the brunt of the German onslaught on May 10, 1940, as German panzers struck the low countries through the Ardennes Forest.

The Chasseurs Ardennais' mission was to delay the Germans and prevent them from encircling the Belgian Army, before French troops could come up to help stop the German advance at the Meuse River. At Bodange, the vastly outnumbered and outgunned Chasseurs held up Rommel's 7th Panzer Division for 9 hours, before giving ground. The Division fought its way completely across Belgium during the 18 days of combat, making its final four-day stand at Lille, France, buying the British precious time to evacuate Dunkirk.

With no chance of evacuation, many of the Chasseurs Ardennais evaded capture and fought on with the Maquis (resistance). More than 500 of the Chasseurs Ardennais were killed in the 18 days of May 1940. Over 200 more were killed fighting with the resistance. Reconstituted after the German surrender, the Chasseurs Ardennais remains one of the most prestigious regiments in the Belgian Army, having served in Korea, the Belgian Congo, Bosnia, Kosovo, and Afghanistan.

Crosspiece (right): "952•1Ch" and "H" inside a circle

The frog measures 7.00 in. (203 mm.) long x 2.375 in. (60 mm.) wide. Constructed with four copper rivets, with large washers. Incorporates a securing strap with a plated steel buckle. The frog originally had a hilt strap, inside the belt loop. This example is missing the hilt strap.

This frog is classified as a Carter #43.

It has the classic Belgian hollow-ground double-edged blade, patterned after the M1916 bayonet. The finish can be parkerized or painted, as is this example.

The serial number and markings identify this example as one that was used by the Belgians, rather than for export. "S.A 30" stands for Saive Automatique caliber .30 (the Belgian rifles were chambered for the .30-06 cartridge).

These bayonets were also used by Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, and Luxembourg. Venezuela used a variant of the M1924 Mauser sword bayonet on their SAFN 1949 rifles.

The meaning of the "circle-M" marking is not known, although the circle-M bayonets are attributed to Belgian use. I suspect that it may identify the rework contractor.

Scabbard Throat: "39018"

This bayonet was used by NATO countries until NATO adopted the 22 mm. rifle grenade in 1961. However, some non-NATO countries retained this bayonet much longer, not changing over to the Type C socket bayonet adopted to go with the 22 mm. flash-hider. The Type A bayonet is unique in having flash-hider prongs integrated with the crosspiece. No other bayonet, before or since, has adopted this design feature.

Bayonets are encountered with wood, metal, and plastic grip scales. This example has wood grip scales. The finish can be parkerized, painted, or both. This example is parkerized, with traces of black paint on top of the parkerizing. The scabbard is blued, although many are painted black. Some scabbards have a teardrop frog stud (as pictured on the SAFN 1949 scabbard above). However, this example has an oval frog stud. I believe this scabbard to be one made in Europe for Argentina.

This bayonet's mounting catch pioneered the "free-recoil" concept. A spring, internal to the hilt, absorbed recoil during rapid fire, allowing the bayonet to "float" independent of barrel vibrations. This mitigated some of the bayonet's adverse effect on accuracy during rapid fire. This concept was subsequently employed by the Dutch on the bayonet produced for the Portuguese variant of the AR-10 assault rifle.

Go to the FAL Bayonets Page.

This is an early example, with serrations on the mounting catch and quality of manufacture is very high. Later examples incorporated manufacturing simplifications.

This example is parkerized, with black paint over the parkerizing on the socket only.

The scabbard is unusual in having the typical plastic body and metal throat, but with a steel frog stud.

Go to the FAL Bayonets Page.

This example is parkerized. The FAL Type C variant produced by Eickhorn is also parkerized.

The plastic scabbard has a flattened round metal frog stud.

Go to the FAL Bayonets Page.

The frog measures 6.75 in. (171 mm.) long by 1.125 in. (29 mm.) wide.

Based on the British Pattern 1937 design, this example is made of olive green cotton webbing. The wide hilt strap floating loose inside the belt loop is characteristic of Belgian frogs.

This frog was not classified by Carter.

The frog measures 7.00 in. (178 mm.) long by 1.25 in. (32 mm.) wide.

This frog was not classified by Carter.