BACKGROUND: The K98 bayonet was a modification of the already modified S84/98 bayonet that had been originally developed in 1915. Manufacture of this new modified bayonet began in 1934 with mass production beginning in 1936. The K98 bayonet was a standard issue item and was accompanied by a bayonet frog to be worn on the reverse left side of the load carrying waist belt. The K98 bayonet remained the standard issue bayonet through-out the war with minor manufacturing variations. As the war continued the quality of the bayonets deteriorated and in mid-1944 most manufacturers discontinued producing the bayonet to concentrate on producing other essential war materials. Originally the German army utilized two patterns of bayonet frogs with one pattern for unmounted personnel and another pattern with the addition of a horizontal retaining strap for mounted personnel. Regulations of January 25^TH 1939 dictated that the bayonet frog without the retaining strap was to be discontinued and replaced by the bayonet frog with the horizontal retaining strap for all personnel although the changeover was never completely achieved. Of Note: Besides the two, standard leather frogs a limited amount of bayonet frogs were produced in ersatz materials including regular canvas, canvas webbing and Preßtoff, a simulated leather constructed of layered, condensed cardboard with a protective rubberized or lacquered finish. It appears that in 1941 the Riese manufacturing firm of Berlin experimented by producing a limited number of bayonet frogs in a rubberized canvas. Of Note: A photographic example of one of Riese’s, rubberized canvas, bayonet frogs is featured in G. T. Wheeler’s book, "Seitengewehr: History of the German Bayonet 1919~1945", on page 245.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: The bayonet has a roughly, 9 7/8", (25 cm), long, drop forged, steel construction, blued blade with a wide fuller to each side and a full length, including the hilt of roughly, 15 1/8", (38.2 cm). The blade retains about 80% of its original, blued finish with light scabbard runner wear, a few minor surface scratches and some light sharpening scars. Both sides of the ricasso are well marked with the stamped serial number to the obverse, "4", and the manufacturer’s initials, to the reverse, "J Sch.", indicating manufacture by Jetter & Sheerer, from Tuttlingen. The spine of the blade is also well marked with the stamped date, "41". The opened muzzle ring cross guard, the flash guard and the stylized, eagle head pommel retain about 75% of their original bluing with numerous small scrapes and scratches and light to moderate surface spotting. The hilt fittings are well marked with no fewer then four waffen-amt stamps. The rifle attachment stud button still functions. The bayonet has molded, dark brown, bakelite grips with seven diagonally angled grooves for better grip. The grips are secured to the tang by two, flush, screw head bolts. The bayonet comes with its original blued, sheet metal scabbard. The scabbard retains about 80% of its original bluing with numerous small scrapes and scratches and light to moderate surface spotting. The obverse of the scabbard is well marked with the matching, stamped, serial number as found on the blade, "4", and the reverse has the matching, stamped, manufacturer’s initials and date, "J. Sch. 1941". The bottom, ball tip, of the scabbard is well marked with a stamped waffen-amt. The throat retaining screw and the frog attachment lug are both intact. The bayonet comes complete with an experimental, molded, black, rubberized, canvas construction, K98 bayonet frog, without the additional retaining strap. The frog consists of a roughly, 8 1/4", (21 cm), tall, 2 1/4", (5.6 cm), wide at its widest point and 1 1/4", (3.1 cm), wide at its narrowest point, dual layered, hour glass shaped, black rubberized canvas panels with an opened belt loop to the top edge and a stitched on bayonet pocket to the bottom edge of the obverse. The base of the frog has a row of stitching near each outside edge. The bayonet pocket is stitched down sides with a central, vertically oval, front lug hole. The reverse of the frog is well marked with the faint, stamped manufacturer’s name, location and date, "C. Riese Berlin SO16 1941". The frog is in overall very good condition with minor chafe wear and the repeating, pebbled texture of the canvas is visible in the rubberized covering. A nice example with a unbelievably low serial number, ("4"), and a very seldom encountered molded, black, rubberized, canvas construction, K98 bayonet frog.