Original Item. Only One Available. This is an original Finnish M/28 knife bayonet manufactured by Hackman & Co. for the Finnish Civil Guard, or Suojeluskunta. The identification is established by the prominent Sk.Y. marking above the HACKMAN & Co. manufacturer stamp at the base of the blade. Sk.Y. is the abbreviation for Suojeluskuntain Yliesikunta, the Civil Guard General Staff. The crossguard also bears the characteristic S acceptance marking.

The bayonet has the distinctive Finnish knife-bayonet configuration developed around the country's Mosin-pattern service rifles. It has a straight single-edged steel blade with broad fullers on both sides, a steel crossguard with muzzle ring and downturned quillon, and two wooden grip scales secured by screws. The steel pommel incorporates the rifle mounting slot and spring-operated locking arrangement. The accompanying steel scabbard has the characteristic longitudinal reinforcing flutes and a frog stud near the throat.

Specifications:

Blade Length: 11 ¾” [29.8 cm]
Overall Bayonet Length: 16 ¾” [42.5 cm]
Scabbard Length: 12 ½” [31.8 cm]
Overall Length with Scabbard: 17” [43.2 cm]

Condition is good overall, with substantial service and storage wear. The blade retains a bright steel surface with scratches, scattered staining, gray spotting, and evidence of sharpening. The guard and pommel have developed darker age toning and oxidation. The wooden grip scales remain securely fitted and show handling wear, scratches, areas of finish loss, and age discoloration. The scabbard retains its fluted form and much of its dark surface finish, with scratches, finish wear, and scattered oxidation.

Historical Context

The Finnish Model 1928 bayonet was developed during a period of considerable modernization within Finland’s armed forces and Civil Guard. Following independence from Russia in 1917 and the Finnish Civil War of 1918, the newly established republic inherited substantial quantities of Russian Mosin-Nagant rifles. These weapons remained the foundation of Finnish infantry armament, although Finnish authorities gradually introduced improvements to their construction, accuracy, and accompanying equipment.

The Suojeluskunta, or Finnish Civil Guard, played an important role in this development. Established as a nationwide voluntary defense organization, the Civil Guard maintained its own system of training, arms procurement, and equipment distribution. Its members received regular instruction in marksmanship and military skills, and the organization contributed significantly to Finland’s reserve of trained personnel. During the 1920s, the Civil Guard pursued improvements to the Mosin-Nagant rifle system, resulting in the adoption of the M/28 rifle and, subsequently, the refined M/28-30.

The M/28 bayonet was introduced as part of this modernization program. Finnish designers sought to equip riflemen with a practical edged weapon suited to the country's military requirements. The resulting knife-bayonet pattern offered a manageable size for field use while retaining the ability to be mounted on the rifle for close combat. The design reflected Finland's emphasis on practical infantry equipment suited to soldiers operating in forests, difficult terrain, and severe winter conditions.

The Civil Guard's arms and equipment became increasingly important as tensions between Finland and the Soviet Union intensified during the 1930s. When the Soviet invasion began on November 30, 1939, initiating the Winter War, Civil Guard personnel were mobilized into the Finnish defense effort alongside the regular Army. Their existing weapons, training, and organizational structure contributed to Finland's ability to assemble and equip its wartime forces.

Finnish M/28 rifles and their associated bayonets consequently belonged to the generation of interwar equipment available during the Winter War of 1939–1940 and the Continuation War of 1941–1944. The M/28 was subsequently supplemented by improved rifle designs, including the M/28-30 and M/39, as Finland continued to refine its infantry weapons throughout this period.

The Civil Guard remained an important component of Finland's national defense system until November 1944, when it was dissolved following the armistice with the Soviet Union. Its dissolution brought an end to an organization that had played a major role in Finnish military training, weapons development, and mobilization for more than two decades.