Bayonet Belt Frogs

	Pictures (click to enlarge)	Description	Length		Width		Markings
			in.	mm.	in.	mm.
Argentina		Leather belt frog used with the M1891 and M1909 rifle bayonets; and with the M1891 Engineer's Carbine bayonet. Also used with the M1909 artillery short sword. Made of thick, stiff green leather with a hilt strap. This frog was not classified by Carter.	9.375	240	2.75	70	None.
Argentina		Nylon belt frog used by the Argentine Marines with the FAL Type A bayonet. The body is made of material very similar to that used in automotive seat belts. The unusual brass grommet design secures the scabbard with the frog stud facing inwards. This frog was not classified by Carter.	8.75	222	1.875	48	None.
Austria		Tooled brown leather belt frog for carrying the M1895 bayonet. This frog is classified as #29 by Carter. According to Carter, Austria, Czechoslovakia, and Hungary all used the #29 frog. The vast majority are unmarked. These frogs are generally presumed Austrian, absent evidence that they are not.	8.50	216	2.50	64	None.
Belgium		Dark brown leather belt frog for carrying the M1916 bayonet. 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 #43 by Carter.	7.00	203	2.375	60	None.
		Post-war belt frog for use with the SAFN 1949 and FAL bayonets. 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. The frog measures 6.75 in. (171 mm.) long by 1.125 in. (29 mm.) wide. This frog was not classified by Carter.	6.75	171	1.125	29	None.
		This frog is nearly identical to the frog above, except it is made of synthetic webbing. The synthetic thread sparkles in bright light. The frog measures 7.00 in. (178 mm.) long by 1.25 in. (32 mm.) wide. This frog was not classified by Carter.	7.00	178	1.25	32	None.
Britain		Pattern 1937 web belt frog made for carrying the No. 4 socket bayonet. This is the second of the two P1937 subtypes that Carter classified as #154, with 1 1/4 inch (32 mm.) upper and lower loops. This example was made by the Blackman Leather Goods Co. Ltd. It was made with a finished slit in the upper loop for use with the No. 4 spike bayonet.	7.25	184	1.25	32	Reverse: "B. L. G. Ltd" and date (illegible)
		Pattern 1937 olive green web belt frog made for the post-war No. 5 scabbards. This example came on a FAL Type C bayonet used by the Rhodesian Army. This frog was made in 1956 by the Mills Equipment Company. AA2016 is the stores catalogue number. The AA prefix was always used for webbing. Carter classified this frog as #171.	8.00	203	1.375	35	Reverse: "MECO 1956" and "P" over "N G" inside a triangle and "AA2016"
		This Pattern 1937 web frog is a hybrid between the No. 5 and No. 6 Pattern 1937 belt frogs. It has the two 1 1/4 inch (32 mm.) wide scabbard loops of the No. 5, but has no eyelet or hilt strap. This frog was not classified by Carter.	8.00	203	1.25	32	Reverse: Solid Arrow.
Canada		Pattern 1915 belt frog for use with the Pattern 1907 bayonet. This frog could also be used to carry the Pattern 1888 and 1903 bayonets. Constructed of brown leather, secured by stitching and copper rivets. Incorporates a strap and large brass roller buckle. Carter classified this frog as #187.	6.75	171	2.375	60	Belt Loop (front): Canadian Broad Arrow acceptance mark, "6" and "22" Belt Loop (reverse): randomly placed "6" "22" "L" "C"
Canada		Pattern 1951 olive green web belt frog for carrying the No. 4 socket bayonet. Carter classified this frog as #190.	5.50	140	1.50	38	Illegible maker's mark and "1952"
Denmark		Strap-type belt frog for securing the U.S. M1 bayonet (and it's Danish clone, the M1950 bayonet) to the Danish Army's British Pattern 1937 style web equipment belt. This is a 1950s example, made of tan webbing. The pictures at left show the frog in use. FKF is the abbreviation for the Forsvarets Krigsmaterial Forvalning (Defense War Material Administration). This marking was used prior to 1960.	8.00	203	1.625	42	Reverse" crown over "FKF"
		This example is made of khaki green webbing and dates from the 1960s. HTK is the abbreviation for the Hærens Tekniske Korps (Army Technical Corps). This marking was used 1960-69.	8.00	203	1.625	42	Reverse" crown over "HTK"
		Rectangular frog adaptor for securing the U.S. M7 scabbard (and it's Danish clone) to the Danish Army's British Pattern 1937 style web equipment belt. This example is made of 1950s tan webbing.	2.25	57	4.00	102	Reverse" crown over "FKF" over "1957"
		This example is from the 1960s and is made of two different shades of tan webbing.	2.125	54	3.875	98	Reverse" crown over "HTK"
		This example is from the 1960s and is made of olive green webbing.	2.25	57	4.00	102
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© Ralph E. Cobb 2009 All Rights Reserved

While the USA hasn’t used belt frogs since then 19th Century, belt frogs are still used in much of the world to allow the bayonet to be carried on a soldier’s equipment belt. Today, belt frogs are very collectible in their own right. Anthony Carter was the world's leading expert on frogs until his untimely passing in 2002. In his three-volume work, Bayonet Belt Frogs, Carter documented 589 different frogs. I don't focus on collecting frogs, so don't have very many. However, the following pulls together those that are scattered across the country-specific pages.

The Random House Unabridged Dictionary defines a frog as “a sheath suspended from a belt and supporting a scabbard.” Use of the term dates to 1710–1720, perhaps from Portugal.

Frogs are typically made of leather or canvas webbing. The scabbard’s frog stud often hooks through a hole in the front piece, securely holding the scabbard in place. Some frogs will have a strap and buckle or other fastener to secure the scabbard. Some frogs also have a hilt strap to prevent the bayonet from flailing around and becoming caught during movement.













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