While going through some containers to sort through stuff, I thought I'd snap a couple of photos that show the varied colors of the Hungarian Type I bayonet handle. Of course, there's variations with the handles themselves and slightly different shades out there but these photos were just quick shots of some interesting color patterns and shades - the three on the left are the first or early model of the Type I bayonet (usually indicative of the nice marbling and serial numbers) and the three on the right are later models of the bayonet.

Unfortunately, I missed using the actual sunlight which really brings out the true colors so regular light and flash had to suffice.

From left to right (as you look at the photos):
* medium maroon with red marbling
* light red with maroon marbling
* dark maroon with pink marbling
* dark "chocolate" brown
* dark maroon
* red/brown

(with flash)



(without flash)

are the colour variations linked to the manufacturer, the year of production, ... ? or just coincidence?

They're basically linked to era. It seems the marbled ones are the earlier ones. As time progressed, the manufacturing process got a little more efficient and the more solid colors arose. But the colors were simply a product of the mixture ratio of the chemicals for the bakelite at that time. During manufacture, there were probably times where the factory created mixtures with a different ratio of chemicals and that, in turn, produced either a darker or lighter color.

This was my first bayonet i purchased at the age of 14 when we were on holiday in hungary. I paid 40 DM at that time. (22 years ago)
After years i discoverd it was missing the rubber insulator