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 weight bearing 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. In 1942, due to leather shortages, another simplified or skeletonized version of the bayonet frog was introduced which were easier to produce and utilized less leather. Allegedly these simplified frogs were originally introduced by the Waffen-SS although they were issued to all branches of service.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Smooth, blackened leather construction bayonet frog with a horizontal retaining strap and steel fittings. The frog consists of a roughly, 9" tall, 2 1/4" wide at its widest point and 1 1/4" wide at its narrowest point, dual layered, vertical, hour glass shaped leather 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 with steel reinforcement rivets positioned on either side at the bottom edge of the belt loop and an additional steel rivet to each side of the reverse top edge of the bayonet pocket. The frog also an additional row of stitching running vertically down the center of both the obverse and reverse panels. The bayonet pocket is stitched down sides with a central vertically oval front lug hole. The narrowest section of the frog has a horizontal retaining strap with a natural steel closure stud and corresponding eyelet inserted between the obverse and reverse panels. The reverse of the frog is well marked an impressed RF numbers. Of Note: The RF numbers were intended to replace the manufacturers marks on garments and equipment to conceal the manufactures name and location from the allies, to prevent bombing raids on German industrial factories. The frog is in overall good condition with light chafe wear and light to moderate surface spotting to the steel fittings.

GRADE ***3/4                             PRICE $168.00