A plug Bayonet with possible VOC markings?
 

This just came in with the post, a plug bayonet. The main reason i bought it is the lettering on it which look like A and V O C? So possible Amsterdam VOC, but i have been unable to find anything about such weapons ever beeing issued.
Does anyone here have a clue?

How incredibly exciting!!! As long as I have collected (more years than I can admit) I have ALWAYS wanted a VOC marked blade. While not necessarily rare, they are elusive, and when a sword with same is offered, a premium price in ensured.

As far as I have known, the VOC blades were produced either in Solingen, or my German makers in the number of blade producers in Netherlands with those makers in them. It seems they were made through the 18th century, and with the VOC, the first initial of the chamber (city) destined, and the year.

A=Amsterdam was the most ubiquitous of those marked, with R=Rotterdam; H=Hoorn and several others.

These blades were not only hilted with the various sword types in use by the Dutch East India company, but often sent to colonial regions both for sword repair and trade. Many blades ended up used by native armorers in the traditional edged weapons made.
As far as I know, these blades/swords were not issued, but purchased by sailors etc. so were likely to be privately traded as well.

This is clearly a blade from a hanger/cutlass of the 18th c. and repurposed into a blade for a plug bayonet. These were as noted, not issued, and were used, as per Spanish convention well known in Netherlands, as hunting weapons. By this time the bayonet had become of the socket type, but the plug bayonet tradition carried forth as a type of hunting knife.

Stunning example!!!!