BACKGROUND: The K98 bayonet was a modification of the already modified S84/98 bayonet that had been developed in 1915. Manufacture of this new modified bayonet began in 1934 with mass production beginning in 1936. When issued the bayonet came accompanied with a bayonet frog designed to be suspended from 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. In late 1940, with the impending German entrance into the North African campaign, tropical uniforms and equipment were quickly developed and issued in time for DAK, Deutsches Afrika Korps, (German Africa Corps), personnel’s arrival in Tripoli in February 1941. One of the main variations in the tropical equipment was the use of canvas webbing instead of leather for a variety of items including waist belts and bayonet frogs as it was determined the webbing would wear better then the leather in the tropical climate. Eventually these tropical equipment items would be issued to personnel serving in southern areas of continental Europe.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Woven, khaki/tan, canvas web construction bayonet frog with a dual layered, roughly, 8 1/2" tall, 1 3/4" wide, rectangular base with an opened belt loop to the top edge and a stitched on front bayonet pocket to the bottom edge. The central area of the frog has a horizontal khaki/tan canvas retaining strap inserted and stitched between the two layers of the webbing, just below the top belt loop. The horizontal retaining strap has a steel stud to one side with a corresponding stud eyelet to the other side. The bayonet retaining pocket to the bottom front has a vertically oval, stitch reinforced, bayonet scabbard lug eyelet. The frog is in overall very good condition with light to moderate age and usage toning. The reverse of the frog has a faint, illegible black inkstamp.

GRADE ***3/4                             PRICE $179.00