Early Flea Market Bargain

[Aragorn243]

Warm day today so headed up to the one flea market hoping for a Martini Henry bayonet and instead came home with a Finnish Civil Guard M28 bayonet for $50. Needs cleaned up a bit but not in bad condition. No makers mark but doe have the (KE) inspectors mark and the S district mark on the bottom.

Information

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[mmppres]

yes weather was nice saw ton of bikes out while driving home from gun show good find for you

[Eaglelord17]

That's a real score, I wish they had places like that around where I live.

[Aragorn243]

I can't tell the difference between these bayonets. I'll have to post photos I guess to try to narrow it down. The one I picked up today does not have the cleaning hole or the sharpened ground blade like the first one I acquired. The birds head pommel is a little longer on one also. Don't know if it's a 1927, 1928 or 1935 or something else.

[porterkids]

These bayonets have always been very difficult for me to correctly identify. Here is some information that was provided by Reino Karha on the subject:

M27 ( Army )
Blade is replaceable and attached to tang by means a dove tail joint and rivet. However this does not show outside. Grip rivets are domed to grind them easily off to strip the bayonet for repair. Crossguard has heavily rounded sides and is loose and hold on place between blade and tang. Pommel and tang are made in a single piece.
Blade sides are round. Crossguard and handle are blued, blade is bright.
Original M27 was in production very short time. Most likely all made bayonets vere modified later on and I have myself never seen an original M27.
Modification was done in 1929, in factory drawings they call it M29 but in Army nomenclature is remains as M27.

The first picture actually shows M29, M27 looks similar but it does not have the spot welds behind crossguard.
There are no other markings on these bayonet than maker's name on blade and serial number which in Army bayonets normally is on top of tang.
M27 was made only by Fiskards, M29 both Fiskars and Hackman though majority by Fiskars.

Scabbard is blued, fluted model.

Variations:
-Originally there is no oil hole on pommel but some bayonets have it drilled at later overhaul.
-Tubular rivets vere used in later overhauls.

M28 ( Homeguard )
Blade is similar as above with round sides. Blade and tang are velded together at middle of the hilt. Weld seam can be seen in most cases. Crossguard sides are straight and it is attached on blade by 2 pins behind crossguard, inside the grip. As there was no need to strip the bayonet in parts for blade change, grip plates are attached with flat ground rivets. Crossguard and handle are blued, blade is bright.

M28 were made only by Hackman & Co. Other markins are -S- or KE in a circle on crossguard, serial number usually below tang, large S in front of serial number and 2 digits on pommel ( last digits of the actual rifle serial number ). These features appear only in Homeguard ( SkY ) bayonets.

Scabbard is fluted and lacquered green.

Variations:
-Originally there is no oil hole on pommel but some bayonets have it drilled at later overhaul.
-Grips have screws instead of rivets.
-Tubular rivets vere used in later overhauls. Sometimes the bayonet was reblued overall.

M28-30 ( Homeguard )
All metal parts are bright. Blade has clearly visible sharpening edges. Crossguard is attached by 2 pins thru crossguard. Blade is weded to tang, not in middle as M28 but about 1/3 from pommel. Curled birchwood grip plates are attached with screws. Oil hole on pommel.

Majority of m28-30 was made by Hackman & Co. and less than 1/3 by Fiskars. Other markings areSk.Y. above maker's name on blade, -S- on crossguard, serial number with S below tang and 2 digits on pommel.
Scabbard is plain and blued.

Variations:
-Without oil hole on pommel.


M35 ( Army )
Quite identical to M28-30 except: All metal parts are blued, grip plates are of normal birchwood and dark.
No other markings than maker's name on blade ( Fiskars or Hackman & Co. ) and rarely serial number on tang top.
Blade tip in Hackman made bayonets is similar to M28-30 but in Fiskars made more sharp.
Scabbard is plain and blued


It's a pain to write it short and understandable but I hope this helps at least someone to ID his bayonets

One addition as this was asked me: Army and Homeguard ( Sk.Y. ) had their own bayonet models as described above. They were not used crossover before WWII when all possible bayonets were mixed - though not newly marked.
Thus you can't find Sk.Y markings on Army models or vice versa.

[gew8805]

Excellent post porterkids, thank you.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

May I suggest changing thread title to Flea Market Unicorn.
Great find!

[Aragorn243]

The one I already had is manufactured by Fiskars and is marked on the blade. Also has a serial number on the top of the tang and a cleaning hole. It has a sharpened edge and ground screws. All blued at one time but now worn.

The one I got yesterday is probably a Hackman but not marked as such. It is a home guard bayonet with the -(KE)- inspectors mark and ground rivets. Bright finish with possible exception of release button. Two digit rifle number on end of pommel. S and region number on bottom of tang. No cleaning hole.

As for flea market unicorn, this is the only Finnish bayonet I've ever seen for sale outside of ebay so probably an apt description. Marked at $65 I had a hard time believing it was a Finnish bayonet as this was being sold by a "bayonet guy". My gut told me that is what it was but I did ask the fellow and he said, "Oh, that's a Finnish bayonet". I offered $50 and he accepted without hesitation.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

I have seen a total od one in the wild. Walked back around and it was gone. Don't remember the price somewhere in th $100 range. Made me think of anquote from a highschool coach "He who hesitates is lost."

[Aragorn243]

Yeah, I've kind of succumbed to the inevitability of spending cash for these items. I'm still holding out for a Matini Henry 1887 bayonet as I know one guy at this flea market had one last fall for $100. Was too much then but a bargain now. I'm hoping with warm weather, he returns. I sure do love the bargains though. I picked up a Dutch Mannlicher carbine bayonet with complete scabbard and full length blade on Saturday for $120 so it was a very productive 4 days counting the Luger holster. The carbine bayonets being the ones with the upside down mounting bracket.