Bayonet Books

Aney, J. L., Capt. USR & Coombes, J. E., & Montclair, N. J. (1921), The Gew 98:  The German Mauser Rifle, Model of 1898, F. Bannerman Sons, 20 pp. Reprint. (I know that the title says ‘rifle’, however, the book details 31 bayonet variations. This was probably the first-ever ‘book’ detailing German bayonets.). Available from S&S Firearms in New York for $6.00.

Bayonet Training Manual, (1918), Prepared at the School of Arms - Ft. Sill, Okla., Army War College, February 1918, 40 pp. Original.

Brayley, Martin J. (2004), An Illustrated History of Bayonets, Krause Publications, Iola WI, USA 256 pp.  A great value, but not a substitute for Janzen. Very nicely illustrated. Available inexpensively through the major online booksellers.

Carter, J. Anthony. (1969) Allied Bayonets of World War 2. Arco Publishing Company, Inc., New York, USA. 80 pp.

Carter, Anthony & Walter, John. (1974) The Bayonet - A History of Knife and Sword Bayonets From 1850-1970, Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, USA, 128 pp.

Carter, Anthony. (1976) German Ersatz Bayonets 1: A Concise Illustrated History of the All-Metal Designs 1914-18. The Lyon Press, Brighton, East Sussex. 64 pp.  Signed by the author.

Carter, Anthony. (1984) German Bayonets - The Models 98/02 and 98/05.  Tharston Press, Parkes Lane, Tharston, Norwich, Norfolk NR15 2YJ, 124 pp.

Carter, Anthony. (1996) World Bayonets 1800 to the Present: An Illustrated Reference Guide for Collectors. [With Price Guide for 1996-97.] Arms & Armour Press, Cassell Group., London. 34 pp Plus 258 Plates.

Carter, Anthony. (1997) Bayonet Belt Frogs, Tharston Press, Morton Hall, Morton-on-the-Hill, Norwich, Norfolk NR9 5JS, 167 pp. Signed by the author.

A note of personal privilege regarding Anthony Carter. Anthony Carter was one of the most prolific authors of bayonet books, one of the leading bayonet experts in Britain, and a very generous contributor to the BCN until his untimely passing in 2002.  All of his books are first-rate, but today, command high prices.  I am fortunate to have the five volumes above in my reference library, two of which are signed. He is sorely missed by the bayonet collecting community.

Cunningham, Gary M. (1997) American Military Bayonets of the 20th Century. Scott A. Duff Publications, Export PA., USA, 117 pp. This book is an excellent value at $20.  It is still in print and is available from the major on-line booksellers and vendors who cater to the collecting community. You can bet it will skyrocket in value if it ever goes out of print.

Ernst, Dan (1970) Guide to Foreign & United States Bayonets & Miscellaneous Edged Weapons.  Privately Published, LeClaire, Iowa, USA.  First Edition. 112 pp.  An early American work on bayonets, with over 240 line drawings and over 250 photographs.

Evans, R.D.C. & Stephens, Frederick J. (1985) The Bayonet: An Evolution and History. Militaria Pubs., Milton Keynes, Bucks. 231 pp. I had the extreme good fortune to find a used copy at the ridiculously low price of $10.95.  These, generally, run $100 on the used market (for a paperback!).

Evans, R. D. C. (2002) The Plug Bayonet - An Identification Guide for Collectors. Privately Published, West Yorkshire, England. 263 pp.  The definitive work on plug bayonets. Signed by the author.

Goldstein, Erik (2000) The Socket Bayonet in the British Army 1687-1783. Andrew Mowbray Publishers, Lincoln, Rhode Island, USA. 134 pp. An excellent book, outlining the introduction of the socket bayonet in the British Army.

Ivie, Martin D. (2002) Kalashnikov Bayonets - The Collector’s Guide to Bayonets for the AK and it’s Variations, Diamond Eye Publications, Allen, Texas.  220 pp. THE Bible of AK-47 bayonets. First edition, signed by the author.

Janzen, Jerry L. (1987) Bayonets From Janzen's Notebook. [2nd Ed.], Cedar Ridge Publications, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, USA. 258 pp. THE book to buy, if you can only have one. This is to bayonets what Small Arms of the World is to firearms. See: Getting Started.  FWIW, my grandfather established the first Chevrolet dealership in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.

LaBar, Raymond L. (2007) Bayonets of Japan - A Comprehensive Reference on Japanese Bayonets, RAYMAR Inc., Tunnel Hill, Georgia, USA. 472 pp. The most comprehensive work ever produced on Japanese bayonets. Everybody knows how pricey and sought after Larry Johnson’s book on Japanese bayonets became after going out of print.  Get this one while you can, by visiting www.bayonetsofjapan.com. Signed by the author.

Maddox, J. A. (2005) Collecting Bayonets, Privately Published, Savannah, Georgia, USA. 528 pp. A limited-edition of 1,000 signed copies available directly from the author at www.collectingbayonets.com.  Simply, the most beautifully illustrated bayonet book ever. Nothing else even comes close. Signed by the author.

Noll, Jeff. (1998) The Imperial German Regimental Marking, Noll Publishing, Ventura, California, USA, 198 pp. Available directly from Noll Publishing.  Signed by the Author. THE reference for deciphering German Army unit markings from the 1871-1918 period.

Ottobre, Dennis D. (2002), Observations on Turkish Bayonets, Privately Published, Newcommerstown, Ohio, USA. Available directly from the author at www.eBAYONET.com. The first, and only serious study, to date, of Turkish bayonets. Many, many newly identified bayonet variations appear for the first time ever in this publication. Photos of my Turkish M1874 Peabody dress sabre were added to this book in July 2006.

Ottobre, Dennis D. (2006), Bayonets of Afghanistan, Privately Published, Newcommerstown, Ohio, USA. Available directly from the author at www.eBAYONET.com. The first documentation published on bayonets encountered during the war in Afghanistan. Very comprehensive.  Includes British and other foreign bayonets, as well as Afghan-produced variants.

A note regarding Observations on Turkish Bayonets and Bayonets of Afghanistan.  This is a very innovative book format, published only on CD-ROM. This format allows for frequent updates and, since each CD is generated when purchased, the buyer always gets the very latest version. Each CD is signed and dated. These would likely have cost upwards of $50 per copy if published in hardcover format. As a CD they are less than $20, a whopping value!

Priest, Graham. (1986), The Brown Bess Bayonet.  Tharston Press, Parkes Lane, Tharston, Norwich, Norfolk NR15 2YJ, 159 pp. The basic bible of the Brown Bess bayonet.

Priest, Graham. (2003), The Spirit of the Pike - British Socket Bayonets of the Twentieth Century, Uppem Publications, 2 Little Challows, Biddelstone, Chippenham, Wilshire, England. 352 pp.  The most detailed and authoritative book available on the No. 4 spike bayonet and it’s cousins.  Contains photos of my one-of-a-kind No. 4 Mk. I brass-throated scabbard.

Reilly, Robert M. (1990) American Socket Bayonets and Scabbards: A Comprehensive Illustrated History of Socket Bayonets, Scabbards and Frogs in America from the Colonial through to the Post-Civil War Period. Andrew Mowbray Inc., Lincoln, RI, USA. 209 pp. The bible of American socket bayonets.  This volume is still in print and can be purchased very reasonably from the major online booksellers.

The late Robert Reilly was founder of the Society of American Bayonet Collectors, the largest bayonet collecting organization in the U.S. 

Shuey, Robert W. (1999) Socket Bayonets of the Great Powers - A Collector’s Guide.  Excalibur Publications, Tuscon, AZ, USA. 96 pp.

Silvey, M. W., Boyd, Gary D., and Trzaska, Frank. (2006) U.S. Military Knives, Bayonets and Machetes Price Guide - Fifth Edition. Knife World Publications, Knoxville, TN, USA. 72 pp. This can be ordered at Frank Trzaska’s website at www.usmilitaryknives.com.

Skennerton, Ian D. & Richardson, Robert. (1986) British and Commonwealth Bayonets. Private Pub., I.D. Skennerton, Margate, Queensland, Australia. {2nd. Ed. - 1st. Ed 1984.] 404 pp. The basic Bible of British bayonets.  It is still in print and can be purchased very reasonably from the major online booksellers.

TM 9-1005, Organizational, DS, GS. and Depot Maintenance Repair Parts Lists for Bayonet-Knife M4, M5, M5A1, M6, and M7, With Bayonet-Knife Scabbard M8A1. (1967) Headquarters, Department of the Army,  12 pp. Original.

Trzaska, Frank. (1997) Bayonets, Knives & Scabbards - United States Army Edged Weapons Report 1917 Thru 1945.  Privately Published, USA. 69 pp.  A detailed report of bayonet and scabbard production during World War II.  This can be ordered at Frank Trzaska’s website at www.usmilitaryknives.com.

Tupes, Herschel, Captain 1st U.S. Infantry & Poole, Sylvetser, Sergeant Co. D 1st U.S. Infantry (1906) Manual of Bayonet Exercises and Musketry Fencing. John Wiley & Sons, New York. First Edition, First Thousand, 111 pp. Original.

Waldron, William H. Lt. Col. 29th US Infantry (1917) Elements of Trench Warfare - Bayonet Training. Edwin N. Appleton, 1 Broadway, New York City. 225 pp. Original.

Walker, Gary L. & Weinand, R. J. (1985) German Clamshells And Other Bayonets.  Privately Published, Quincy, IL, USA 158 pp.  Hardcover. Signed by both authors.  Numbered first edition, no. 194 of 2000 copies. A well-illustrated reference on dress bayonets of the Nazi period. Still available from author Ronald Weinand at Weinand Militaria.

Walter, John & Hughes, Gordon (1969) A Primer of World Bayonets - Part One.  Privately Published, 121 Preston Drove, Brighton, England.  Unpaginated.

Walter, John & Hughes, Gordon (1969) A Primer of World Bayonets - Part Two.  Privately Published, 121 Preston Drove, Brighton, England, 23 pp.

Walter, John. (1973) The Sword and Bayonet Makers of Imperial Germany 1871-1918. The Lyon Press, Brighton, Sussex. Unpaginated.

Walter, John. (1976) The German Bayonet - A Comprehensive History of the Regulation Patterns 1871-1945, Arms & Armour Press, London, England, 128 pp.  Comprehensive history of the German bayonets issued to the troops.  Especially good for its history of the Imperial Period.

Walter, John. (1996) German Military Letter Codes:  The Manufacturers’ Marks of the Third Reich, 1939-1945, Small Arms Research Publications, Hove, England, 128 pp. While not a bayonet book per se, this comprehensive reference of German letter codes identifies all of the known German bayonet makers.

Welser, Mike. (1985) Reichswehr and Wehrmacht Bayonets 1920-1945. Privately Published, Escondido, California, USA. 33 pp.  This is a great pocket guide to post-WW I German bayonets. Its small, soft-cover format make it ideal for your hip-pocket at gun shows. All copies are signed and numbered. Available directly from the author: Mike Welser, PO Box 3285, Quincy, CA 95971-3285, 530-283-3285.

Wheeler, George T., (1999) Seitengewehr: History of the German Bayonet 1919-1945, R. James Bender Publishing, P.O. Box 23456, San Jose, CA 95153, with photographs, price guide, 328 pp.   Signed by the author. This book is still in print and can be purchased very reasonably from the major online booksellers. Another book to get before it goes out of print, as prices will likely go out of sight once it does.

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