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.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Roughly, 10" long, drop forged, steel construction blade with wide fullers, retains about 90% of its original, blued finish with small spots of wear to the base steel with minor surface spotting and scratching. Interestingly the blade has no serial number. The reverse ricasso is well marked with the stamped manufacturers initials, "WuK", indicating manufacture by Weyersberg und Kirschbaum of Solingen-Wald. Of Note: The Weyersberg und Kirschbaum firm was formed in the early 1880's by the amalgamation of the Gebrüder Weyersberg and the W.R. Kirschbaum firms. In the early 1930's the WuK firm underwent an internal structural reorganization and changed their name to WKC, Weyersberg, Kirschbaum & Co. Waffenfabrik. The spine of the blade is also well marked with an early Reichswehr era waffen-amt stamp and the date, "29". The opened muzzle ring cross guard, the flash guard and the stylized eagle head pommel retain about 80% of their original bluing with minor surface spotting and scratching. The obverse of the cross guard has an early Reichswehr era waffen-amt stamp and the reverse of the cross guard is well marked with stamped Kriegsmarine issue serial number, "O.2763", indicating it was the 2,763^RD bayonet issued by the Kriegsmarine at the Ostsee, (Baltic), naval station. 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 "TO" slotted, stylized eagle head pommel also has an early Reichswehr era waffen-amt stamp. The rifle attachment stud button has seized up and the flash guard shows numerous small dings. The bayonet comes with a blued sheet metal scabbard which retains about 95% of its bluing with minor surface scratching. The obverse of the scabbard is well marked with a stamped serial number, "2449", and the reverse has the matching stamped manufacturers initials, "WuK", and a miss-matched Kriegsmarine issue serial number, "O.4407". The bottom ball tip of the scabbard is well marked with a faint, stamped waffen-amt. The throat retaining screw and the frog attachment lug are both intact.

GRADE ***1/2                             PRICE $176.00