Dark brown leather belt frog for carrying the M1916 bayonet.

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.

Knife bayonet for use on the Saive Automatique, Fabrique Nationale (SAFN) Modèle 1949 self-loading rifle produced by FN in the 1950s.

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.

This example has a parkerized blade. The hilt and scabbard are painted. The sloppy markings and oversize grip scales suggest that this example may have been reworked. Owing to its pristine condition, it likely did not see service following rework.

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.

Pommel: "SA 30" and "39018" and "M" inside a circle

Scabbard Throat: "39018"

Knife bayonet for use on the 7.62 mm. NATO caliber Fabrique Nationale - Fusil Automatique Leger (Light Automatic Rifle), or FN-FAL, assault rifle produced by FN beginning in 1953. The FAL was used by more than 50 countries and became known by FN's clever Cold War advertising slogan: "the free world's right arm."

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 have not determined which country used this type scabbard.

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 example has ribbed plastic grip scales and a black painted finish. This example also has an oval frog stud. I have not determined which country used this type scabbard. The shape of spring catch is different, compared to the example pictured above.

Go to the FAL Bayonets Page.

Socket bayonet introduced in the 1960s for the FN-FAL assault rifles that incorporated the 22 mm. NATO-spec flash hider.

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.

A later example, with "wings" on the mounting catch, instead of the serrations found on early examples, such as the above example; or the FAL Type C used by Rhodesia and the R1 bayonet used by South Africa.

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.