When WW1 started in the summer of 1914, Romania could not import anymore the 6.5mm Mannlicher M-1893 rifle and the bayonet for it from Austria. During the period 1916-18 Romania participated in WW1 and lost a large quantity of the Austrian made 6.5mm Mannlicher M-1893 rifles and bayonets.
It is not clear how, but a great number of Austrian made Mannlicher M-1893 bayonets used by Romania became Turkish property after the end of WW1 in 1918. These bayonets were modified at the Turkish arsenal "Askari Fabrikalar" which started the activity in 1929. The modified Mannlicher M-1893 knife bayonets in Turkey could fit the Turkish Mauser rifles, it's well known how the Turks modified a large variety of bayonets to fit their weapons.
The only one modification made to the Mannlicher M-1893 bayonet was quite simple: the original muzzle ring with the diameter of 14mm was cut off and a larger muzzle ring with the diameter of 15.5mm was welded in place. The original crosspiece was not modified but the new larger ring was fixed higher that the previous original one. The Mannlicher M-1893 knife bayonets modified by the Turks [I believe the operation took place in late 1930s] have the original Austrian mark "OEWG", the Romanian marks [Romanian Phoenix / "acvila" and serial numbers] and finally new serial numbers stamped by the Turks on the crosspiece [or pommel] and the mark "AS.FA" stamped on pommel showing the modification made by the "Askari Fabrikalar", the Turkish arsenal located not far from Ankara
I'm lucky to have a modified Mannlicher M-1893 knife bayonet in my collection. It has a Turkish scabbard, not the original Austrian one. Please see my 4 pictures from below [two and two together]: --->
PHOTO 1:
TOP => At top there is the unmodified Austrian made Mannlicher M-1893 bayonet with its scabbard, both used and marked by the Romanians. Below there is the Austrian made Mannlicher M-1893 bayonet, used in Romania and later modified in Turkey. Note the longer crosspiece and the crude Turkish scabbard.
BOTTOM => I took this closer photo showing the Austrian mark "OEWG" stamped on the left ricasso, the modified crosspiece and the larger muzzle ring [interior diameter = 15.5mm]. Note that the wooden grips are secured to the blade tang by rivets, not by screws. Also note the serial number "9196" stamped by the Turks on the left side of the crosspiece.
PHOTO 2 [from top to bottom]: Original German WW2 bayonet fixed to my 7.92mm Mauser K98 bolt action rifle manufactured in 1943 [the weapon is fully functional]; Austrian made Mannlicher M-1893 bayonet modified by the Turks which fits to the same German 7.92mm Mauser K98 rifle; closer view showing the hilt of the modified Mannlicher M-1893 bayonet, the Spanish made adaptor which allows the bayonet to be fixed and the longer crosspiece with the muzzle ring that fits perfectly into the end of the barrel. I hope you'll find very interesting all my pictures and the info posted. Please let me know if you guys want to see more of my pictures showing the modified Mannlicher M-1893 bayonet
[detail photos]
Orita 08/07/08