~ FN FAL Bayonet, Scabbard and Frog South Africa—M1 (Type A) Bayonet with Plastic Grip Scales ~
The FN FAL (Fusil Automatique Léger) is a widely used battle rifle that was designed by the Belgian arms manufacturer Fabrique Nationale (FN). The FN FAL bayonet is an accessory specifically designed for use with the FN FAL rifle.
Our example is serial numbered 6516.
Here are some details about the FN FAL bayonet:
FN’s initial bayonet design was what we know today as the FAL Type A bayonet. It was an innovative design that confronted the adverse effects that a bayonet has on the accuracy of a self-loading rifle with new technology. It’s designers introduced the “free-recoil” concept, where a spring plunger hidden inside the hilt allowed the bayonet to float during rapid semi-auto and full-automatic fire, decreasing the bayonet’s adverse effect on accuracy. This ingenious approach was later adopted by the Dutch firm, Artillerie Inrichtingen, when designing a bayonet for another groundbreaking assault rifle, the Armalite AR–10.
The most distinctive feature of the Type A bayonet are the flash-hider “prongs” integral with the muzzle-ring. These served as an ersatz flash-hider on early FALs that had no muzzle device. The blade profile is a variation of the U.S. M4 design. The grip scales can be wood, plastic, or sheet steel. The steel scabbard follows the standard FN Mauser export bayonet scabbard design developed in the 1920s. Scabbards with oval frog studs are also encountered.
The Type A was the FAL bayonet used with the early FAL rifle, which had no muzzle device. The early Type A bayonets had a flat spring catch, as seen on the Belgian example below. Most Type A bayonets had a curved spring catch, as shown on the Argentine and South African examples below. When NATO standardized on the 22 mm. rifle grenade, FN began producing rifles with a 22 mm. combo-device in 1962. This necessitated a new bayonet design, due to the large diameter muzzle device required to accept and launch the 22 mm. rifle grenade. Despite it’s obsolescence, the early FAL rifles and Type A bayonet remained in use for many years, seeing combat service with Argentine forces during the 1982 Falklands War.
If you have a specific FN FAL bayonet and are interested in its history or value, it’s recommended to consult with military arms experts or collectors who specialize in bayonets and military memorabilia. They can provide more detailed information based on the specific characteristics and markings of the bayonet.
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