East German AKM Bayonet and scabbard (Type II), Serial number 660037 on bayonet hilt. Late AKM / Early AK-74 - DDR Modell AK74 (late version): Black plastic polyamide grip , not "Bakelite". Based on serial number data, these black bayonets supplanted the yellow-red ones for use on DDR AK-74's, but it's unclear exactly which year that occurred. This bayonet was an improvement on the AKM (Type II) / Early AK-74 - DDR Modell AK74 (early version): The bulbous plastic pommels of the earlier AKM bayonets had a tendency to crack under field conditions, so an improved design was introduced with a steel pommel capping the "Bakelite" grip. Designed for the East German version of the AK-74, first produced in 1985. Knife bayonet for use with the Kalashnikov 7.62 mm. AKM and 5.45 mm. AK74 assault rifles. East Germany produced the Type II bayonet from 1985–1987, when the AK74 bayonet was to be introduced. This never occurred, due to east-west reunification. The orange grip AKM Type II is believed to be the initial East German production and is more finely finished than the later black grip bayonets. Gray web retention strap. The leather belt hanger on late Type II scabbards is 4.75 in. (122 mm.) long, noticeably longer than the belt hanger used on Type I and Type I Transitional scabbards. This example is of the later black grip AKM Type II. The blade exhibits arced tool marks common to East German bayonets in the last years before reunification.