"Folding" Knife Bayonet
This is an Italian Model 1938 Folding Knife-Bayonet for the
Model 1938 Mannlicher-Carcano Infantry Rifle. These come in
folding and non-folding variants.
Non-folding variants were also used by Finland; the Finnish
types will have a "SA" stamped on them.
There are several M1938 bayonet sub-models:
- Model 1938 "Folding" (shown) - bayonet folds as with a pocket knife. The machanisms were problematic, so discontinued;
- Model 1938 "Fixed-Folding" - original folding type, altered in post-production modification where it is "fixed" and will no longer fold;
- Model 1938 "Fixed" - full production "fixed" blade, never intended to fold.
All models have wood grips, steel pommel, muzzle-ring acts as
upper crossguard quillon; the later two types utilized a crossguard
with an additional lower quillon.
Steel single-edged, single-fullered blades (either "folding" or "fixed").
Scabbards are of "blued" sheet-rolled-steel. Two types of belt attaching systems
are known: one type with single belt loop (shown below); the other with a single
teardrop-shaped "frog" stud, held in place by a single screw .
