Camo K98 Bayonet

Product Description: This is a fantastic and extremely desirable example of a tropical camo K98 bayonet as used by German soldiers on the Southern Front and in the Afrikakorps. The scabbard of this bayonet is covered with a smooth tan paint that is similar to that used on other tropical camouflaged items such as helmets. This camouflage paint finish shows some honest wear and age toning but is mostly intact. The bayonet itself is a very nice matching 1941 dated example. The blade is maker marked “crs” indicating manufacture by the firm of Paul Weyersburg. The bayonet and scabbard bear matching serial numbers and are well marked with Waffenamt weapons inspection stamps. The blade of the bayonet retains nearly all of the deep original bluing, and has never been sharpened. The handle of the bayonet shows some patina from age but also retains most of the original bluing. The attractive Bakelite grips are excellent and undamaged. This camo K98 bayonet is complete with its original and very desirable tropical web frog. The frog is marked with an illegible maker mark and date as well as “H-0172” which is likely a laundry mark applied by the American soldier who captured this bayonet and may have also worn it on the battlefield. This camo K98 bayonet is a very evocative artifact with tremendous character. An incredible relic that may well have seen service in Africa.

Historical Description: The bayonet was an important part of the combat equipment of the German soldier in both World Wars. The first pattern of German combat bayonet was the Mauser model 1898 which had a long, slender blade. As a result of experiences in combat use in WWI, it was soon decided to shorten the blades on these weapons. This 1898 pattern bayonet was used early in WWI alongside the 1898/05 and the S84/98 bayonets, which were initially shorter, and stronger, than the unmodified 1898 type. Both of these types were made with and without a saw-backed blade. Due to the challenges faced by German industry and the shortages of raw materials, a variety of “Ersatz” (replacement) types were introduced during WWI. After the war, the S84/98 bayonet became standard issue in the Reichswehr and later, in the Wehrmacht, for troops armed with the K98 rifle (the standard WWII German infantry weapon). The bayonets made for issue with the K98 rifle initially had wooden grips. Later, some bayonets were made with Bakelite grips. The bayonets were worn on the belt by means of a leather frog, of which there were a number of prewar and wartime variations including a short bayonet frog for use with the folding shovel, and a webbing frog for tropical use. In 1942, a new model of bayonet was introduced, knows as the SG42. This was a very modernized bayonet, with a comfortable Bakelite grip, and a relatively short blade that made it ideal for use either as a bayonet or a fighting knife. Within the grip was a removable multi-tool insert with a folding knife/bottle opener, awl and screwdriver. Although the SG42 was proposed as a replacement for the S84/98, few were manufactured. German combat bayonets were made in countless variations and all are very collectible today, with some rare variants being very avidly sought-after.

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