BON - bojový nůž SA58

[porterkids]

Here's a piece I got from a friend in the Czech Republic three years ago. A literal Google translation of the writing on the blade is "Do not let us perish her future".

[Brian]

New one to me. Anyone know anything about this?

[ou75id32]

Brain you are really getting old :P hahah don't you remember from old forum :P posted some photos and text about it.... so let make another

Emergence dates at the end of 2005. by order of 121. company soldiers during exercise. Since every soldier carried combat knife UTON and vz58 bayonet they needed practical solution by combining both, so in a few days prototype was made by Mr. Šindelář . At first handle was same as on vz58 bayonet made from wood with wider guard and later after consulting with colleague shape was changed. Knife testing was made during the winter of 2006. and after several material selection changes began mass production. Handle is done with black soft polyurethane.
It was made limited edition of 100 pieces from 17029 steel just for members of 121st company with stamped Numbers 001-100 on the right middle side of blade and on the right is laser carved sign of company with their moto "nedej zahynouti nám ni budoucím". Rule was that nobody except members can get the knife so there was certificate paper with number of knife, owners name and signature of company commander (77 were granted). Color of certificate for ordinary soldiers was green while for honorably gifted was red. It was even made gift set of 5 pieces marked H001 - H005. For other units are produced without markings and material was 12020 carbon steel.
The sheath is made of Cordura nylon in few color variations (black, green and camo ) and has several options for mounting to a belt or gear. At the front of sheat is a pocket for a pocket knife, whetstone or multi-tool..
It was made around 250 pieces in 2 series.
It was used by soldiers in Kosovo , Afghanistan and Iraq. Several knives used by Slovak paratroopers.

Knife length: 280 мм
Blade length: 160 mm
Blade thickness: 4 mm
Blade Material: Steel 17029 (HRC 56-57) on the first series and carbon steel 12020 on second subsequent series.

[ou75id32]

as you can see the one on the lower picture is original laser carved and same goes with number , the painted one is faked

some better photos of original laser carved knife

[Mr. B.]

While doing some research I found this picture of this bayonet and scabbard. Perhaps a more of an issued version.
Mike

th1R79NDEZ.jpg (38.53 KiB) Viewed 37055 times

[Mr. B.]

Here are a few more pictures I found. Several different variations with scabbards. Green, camo and black. Also note the small section of saw teeth on the top edge. Mike

dsc_0578.jpg (44.53 KiB) Viewed 37034 times

[Mr. B.]

This new improved VZ58 is also known as the VZ858. Mike

[ilian]

Mike, just for info, the Vz858 is the designation of a civilian version of the rifle Vz58, factory made in semi automatic named Gazella or Cz858.
So using this designation could be complicated ^^

I prefer the new Cz Bren bayonet

[Mr. B.]

So what is the official designation of the military version of this revised/updated VZ58 Bayonet pictured above? We here in the USA are more apt to find the commercial version VZ858. Were they ever issued by the Czech military in quantity and when?

Is this the CZ Bren Bayonet you refer to? Pictured here with the CZ95 scabbard pouch and thigh rig. These were approved by Czechoslovakia for issue in 2010. For me these are not true Kalashnikov rifles or bayonets, just like the VZ58 series. I accepted the VZ58 bayonets and added them to my collection. At least they looked like an AK. Not so sure about including the new Brens even though I like the looks and function of them. Mike

[buchtas]

Update on the BON information:

What is written here is most of the information available and is correct and is from the website UTON.CZ
To add, one way to spot an original of the 100 made for the active reserve unit is the fact that the blade as a base in white and then "greened" similiar to bluing but different chemical treatment that leaves greenish streaks - example can be seen here on the czechoslovak military knife bonus vz. 85 https://www.uton.cz/wp-content/gallery/ ... eny/12.jpg
Also there is a video of one of the members of the said unit showing the BON bayonet in the most detailed video on youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0tParEcy2w
There is also a short text on this topic

article by Petr Moudrý

This leads me to think that the first bayonet pictured here is most likely a replica with added on laser engraving, since it is not numbered, but it has correct S.P.M. Liberec manufacture scabbard. So no conclusions for this one.

Next there are full black version that are unnumbered, those are the ones that went to Slovakia and come directly from slovakia, pictures I will add are from a collector from Slovakia, i think he might be ex soldier, not sure still.

Slovakian BON

Slovakian BON

This is still original manufacture

There were also, still originaly made but for civilian/collector market sold by ARSENAL, those appear to be numbered and unnumbered, somewhat weird, also have some pictures of those.

ARSENAL unnumbered

ARSENAL numbered

And to clarify, this was never meant to be full czech army issue bayonet, this was only done by the 121. active reserve unit and named: bayonet BON (BOjový-Nůž -fighting knife) And for the weapon designation anything other than "Samopal VZ 58" is civilian name for civilian rebuild to semi auto

[buchtas]

fake/replica BON bayonets
Collector market has been flooded by a lot of fakes with sellers caliming that they are original czech made BON bayonets
example: https://www.vz58usa.com/product/vz58-ba ... -unissued/
Claim of unissued bayonet is just false, most likely they are not even made in czech republic, most likely they are from poland, land of all sorts of fake and repros af varying quality.
So no this type is not an original BON nor original czech surplus, this seller is straight up lying
BON was never issued beyond 100 pieces to a specific unit, and those have a certificate and corresponding number on them.
There is no proof that MIKOV made those replicas, if they did there would be a commercial mikov marking on them.

One way to spot the fakes is the button, original ones have been made in the same way as vz 58 release buttons, this has been cheaply cast and it shows, they didnt even remove the casting point.
Next is the rails for the bayonet lug, they are ground to angle in the front, that is just fantasy.
The whole bayonet is painted black, just paint.
Grip, as you can see, has gap between the bayonet and the grip material, original ones were litteray cast on the handle, they poured melted rubber directly on the handle.
Also you can see the remains of the beyonet being cast itself in the slot for the bayonet lug, it was not machined like originals.

And lastly, orignal ones used avtuall pieces of the original VZ 58 bayonets.....

I have pictures from the vz58usa website and BayonetWorld.eu website

So be aware that those pieces are all reproductions.

I am not saying that it is wrong to own one, since it is unlikely that anyone will be able to own one, Even I might get one, but I would pay 100 euros/dollars max to have a representation of the type if i find one.

[buchtas]

Original BON bayonets made for civilian market
Here are pictures of the few BON bayonets that were made for the civilian market by the same manufacturer as the original ones for the army reserve unit
One with the serial number shows exactly how it should look like, it has been observed that original pieces are prone to rusting same as the military ones, also the number would be within the know 250 pieces made.

[Brian]

Great info!