Proper Bayonet for Chinesee 88 Rifle

[Aragorn243]

I thought I had a bayonet for this already but turns out it is for the later Chiang Kai-Shek rifle. I've looked everywhere for information on this and have not been able to find a decent answer. It appears that the correct bayonet is a Chinese produced bayonet that looks remarkably similar to a Type 30 Japanese bayonet. It also appears that a lookalike to the Czech bayonets were used.

The problems seem to be that there are not many markings on these, there also aren't many images on the net on these. And a third problem is they are being replicated in China today, aged to appear to be original and sold for high prices. Quality is said to not be the best on the originals but the fakes are really bad.

With the rifle not arriving until Tuesday, I have no way of checking to see if a Type 30 bayonet fits on it or the VZ series of bayonets. The VZ series should but I doubt the Type 30 will.

Any information, photos or markings would be appreciated.

Information

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[marysdad]

The original Chinese 88 bayonet had a double-edged blade with a low large diameter muzzle ring (same ring as a German M1871/84 bayonet. The Type 30 muzzle ring height is too tall. The hilt length is similar for the Gew 88 and Mauser 98-based rifles, which is why German Ersatz Bayonets were made that could mount to both, using an open, ovoid muzzle ring. If the rifle still has a barrel jacket, a VZ-24 bayonet will have too small of a muzzle ring. It may fit if the rifle has been rebarreled without the jacket.

[Aragorn243]

No barrel jacket, but neither of those bayonets is going to work. It needs a high muzzle ring as the lug is below the cleaning rod. This is not the original 88 but the later upgraded one without the barrel jacket and below the barrel bayonet lug. Chinese produced. I'll take some photos when I get it in a couple of days.

[Aragorn243]

I picked up the rifle today. What fits on it are Turkish Mauser bayonets, Argentine Mauser bayonets, Spanish bayonets. Austrian M95 bayonet almost fit and might have if I forced it, didn't want to force it. Turk bayonets fit like a glove.

Japanese Type 30 won't fit either the bayonet lug or the muzzle ring. Gew98/K98 types aren't even close to fitting in any dimension.

[Aragorn243]

According to "Bayonets of the World" it is supposed to have a short double edged blade with no markings manufactured in Germany. Photos I've seen seem to show Turk style bayonets were used.