This photo shows the same mounted bayonet next to a standard issue Russian bayonet, also fixed to a vintage M91 Three-line Rifle.

This photo shows one of the corkscrew type Austro-Hungarian ersatz bayonets. This particular bayonet is for the Model 1867/73 Werndl, an obsolete single shot black powder rifle, upon which this example is shown mounted. While this particular bayonet is for the Werndl, the identical ersatz pattern bayonet was also produced for both the M91 Three-line rifle as well as for the Berdan II.

Here is another view of the same bayonet. The blades were formed from a simple strip of iron or steel. Very few have survived.

This final view of this unusual and rare bayonet shows quite clearly the manner of attachment to the rifle. The corkscrew shape of the “socket” twists around the front sight base and is held in place by the wedge like fit when rotated tightly against the front sight base.

Austria-Hungary converted over 50,000 M91 Three-line Rifles to chamber the standard M93 8x50mmR cartridge. Many of these rifles were issued with straight slot ersatz bayonets along with available stocks of captured bayonets. Most of these rifle were converted at the Steyr plant and can be identified by the Steyr “OEWG” mark added to the top of the receiver flat.

Rifles converted to chamber the Austro-Hungarian cartridge had the range markings on the rear sight base renumbered as seen in this photo. A lesser number of these conversions were performed at the AZF Plant in Vienna.

These rifles had new serial numbers added, complete with the typical Austro-Hungarian letter suffix.

The most familiar means of converting captured rifles to accept German bayonets was through the addition of a tubular bayonet adapter. This photo shows the more common version of the tubular adapter. These adapters were designed to be used with the Model 88/98 ersatz pattern bayonets.

To allow clearance for the adapter, the end of the stock was cut back and the nosecap removed completely. The tightening screws, which hold the collar of the adapter firmly in place, are clearly visible in this photo. The collar is an extension of the dovetailed panel on the top of the adapter. This panel butts up against the back of the rear sight base.

The muzzle of the adapter was stepped to accommodate the partial muzzle ring of the ersatz pattern bayonets

In typical German fashion, these adapters are inspection marked on the rear portion of the bayonet lug.

The tubular adapters would accommodate all of the various versions of the 88/98 ersatz bayonets, including this version with the cast steel grip.

Here is another view of the same bayonet mounted on the adapter.

While the use of tubular adapters is widely known in collecting circles, the Germans converted large numbers of captured M91 Three-line rifles to accept German bayonets in a variety of other ways. Many were altered through the addition of a new Gew 98 style top band/bayonet bar assembly. Here are three of these rifles, each shown with a variation of the 88/98 ersatz pattern bayonet.

This photo shows two additional versions of the same conversion.

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