M1891/30 Bayonet

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	Weapon: M1891/30 Bayonet Type: Socket Bayonet Country of Origin: USSR Year Adopted: 1930 Overall Length (mm): 500.0 Overall Length (in): 19.69 Weight (kg): 0.50 Weight (pounds): 1.1

The M1891/30 Mosin-Nagant Bayonet was a cruciform socket bayonet designed for the Soviet Mosin-Nagant M1891/30 rifle, the standard infantry weapon of the Red Army from the 1930s through World War II. Measuring approximately 17 inches in length, the bayonet featured a four-sided, spike-shaped blade designed primarily for thrusting rather than cutting. It locked onto the rifle's barrel using a socket with a spring-loaded catch, and it was typically issued as a permanent companion to the rifle, reflecting the Soviet doctrine that the bayonet was an essential part of infantry combat.

Production of the M1891/30 bayonet was massive, with millions manufactured during the 1930s and 1940s alongside the rifle itself. Soviet soldiers were generally expected to keep the bayonet fixed at all times, as it was considered part of the rifle's sight alignment and point of balance. The bayonet saw action in nearly every major battle of the Eastern Front during World War II, from the defense of Moscow to the Battle of Stalingrad, cementing its place as one of the most iconic bayonets of the 20th century.

The M1891/30 bayonet became notorious for its brutal efficiency, with its cruciform blade producing deep puncture wounds that were difficult to treat. Its reputation was reinforced by Soviet military doctrine that placed heavy emphasis on shock assaults and close-quarters combat, where bayonet charges were still considered viable tactics well into the war. Today, the M1891/30 bayonet is widely recognized among collectors and historians as one of the most distinctive bayonets of World War II, symbolizing both the mass mobilization of the Soviet Union and the enduring legacy of the Mosin-Nagant rifle.