[JPS]

To me it looks like it was freshly made in Ukraine.

Here is how the real one looks: http://popgun.ru/viewtopic.php?f=344&t=448093

Rule of thumb - real stuff costs more in Russia and Ukraine than here. A lot more. You will never, ever buy a genuine article cheap there. That bayonet (the one shown by the topic-starter) was offered for $380 "buy now" (http://webapi.aukro.com.ua/shtyk-na-vintovka-mosina-polk-n-gulkevicha-i4195240621.html). A genuine Gulkevich bayonet will sell for many times that amount in Russia.

Spot on Nick!

I've dealt with several well known legitimate Russian dealers in Moscow over the years, all of whom I have met in person while visiting their shops. While many of the items I have purchased from them either in person or over the web, have been reasonably priced since they were items that are near impossible to find anywhere, however other items that are commonly available here are often astronomically priced in Russia! So much so that when the time comes to liquidate the Collection, some of my rifles that are classified as antiques here in the States, will most likely be sold in the Russian market, depending of course on the status of the import laws in Russia at the time. In the current market, most rare Russian rifles will bring double or triple the highest price that they would possibly bring here in the U.S. market. Most Russians who can afford collections are extremely wealthy.

Valentina reads various news sources in Russia every morning on her tablet. A recent competition was held among Russian sculptors to design and cast a new monumental statue to commemorate the Russian soldiers who dies in WWI. The Great War which was barely mentioned in Soviet History courses has become quite popular in recent years. The last time I was in Moscow they were overhauling the WWI section of the Red Army Museum. Putin's "Greater Russia" has been hailed in a new wave of nationalism.

On a final note, the last legitimate Gulkevich bayonet I saw for sale went for over $4500 U.S.

Warmest regards,

JPS

 

[JPS]

Roger that Nick!

And never forget 7x57 that in everyone's career in Collecting will vary from one extreme to the other! Once in a while we ALL get burned and when the pendulum swings the other direction, we ALL get lucky from time to time! Always give it your best effort. And always remember.......

The ONLY stupid question is the one that goes unasked!

Thank you for sharing this with us.

Warmest regards,

JPS

 

[JPS]

I've given some thought over the years to manufacture a "REPRO" marked Gulkevich bayonet to display with my "St. Petersburg Cavalry Carbine and perhaps one day I will. I have enough close up photos to create a print by scaling the photos.

I would certainly be interested in purchasing a decent Repro at Repro prices. However, using the repro above as an example, the problem with this approach is whether or not the hunge is in the correct location to fold and store properly with the tip in the side mounted scabbard on the carbine? If I make one myself, I can use my carbine to align the folded bayonet to ensure that the hinge is correctly placed.

Warmest regards,

JPS

 

[JPS]

I have always estimated the cost to be about $250 based on using two original socket bayonets plus the fabrication of the hinge along with the welding and light machining. I have lots of connections in manufacturing.