high wood Posted 18 October , 2015 Share Posted 18 October , 2015 I do not often buy bayonets but I couldn't resist this one as it appears to have a story, if only I could work out what it was. It appears to be a M1898/05 2nd pattern that has been bastardised. There is a Crown W 17 marking but no others that I can find. The blade seems somehow to have been turned into a cutlass shape and the original scabbard is long gone, or at least, its original cover has. In its place there is a crudely made cover of animal skin. My guess is that it has been fashioned into a native weapon probably in Africa or the Middle East. Any thoughts would be welcome. More photographs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
depaor01 Posted 18 October , 2015 Share Posted 18 October , 2015 Intriguing piece. Native reworking is understandable. There must've been thousands of German bayonets in German colonial Africa, and fully equipped forges making machetes for the local inhabitants. Looking forward to the replies to this. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
high wood Posted 18 October , 2015 Author Share Posted 18 October , 2015 Me too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N White Posted 18 October , 2015 Share Posted 18 October , 2015 Not necessarily Africa. I have seen 98/05s turned into woodsplitters, socket bayonets into sickles, and Gras bayonets into fireplace sets. All for the US commercial market. I have also seen an ad for a rake made from cut off sections of shortened US 1905 bayonets. Socket bayonet candlesticks are also commonish. Anything to make a quick buck off of otherwise undesirable and abundant surplus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
high wood Posted 18 October , 2015 Author Share Posted 18 October , 2015 Indeed, but this has some age to the scabbard and came from a Shropshire house clearance so I don't think that it is a money making conversion. It seems to have been done for utility rather than commerce. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docchippy Posted 18 October , 2015 Share Posted 18 October , 2015 Ahh haa me hearties.. Am-Dram Pirates of Penzance / Peter Pan / Treasure Island? Doc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trajan Posted 19 October , 2015 Share Posted 19 October , 2015 Well, off-hand I can't think of any S.98/05's that certainly went to Africa for German service... The troops there certainly had the S.98 and of course the kS.98, and I believe (but need to check) there were S.71/84's also there. There were S.98/05's in the Pacific Islands, if I remember aright, but 1917 would be a bit too late for one to get there! No maker mark, ok, but check the pommel on the reverse side as there may be a fraktur mark just above where the bayonet catch was. That might just indicate the probable maker. Certainly an intriguing piece! Trajan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike_H Posted 19 October , 2015 Share Posted 19 October , 2015 This has been in the IWM collections since the 1920's. Found in Palestine. Manufacturer - Waffenfabrik Mauser, Oberndorf, 1917. Mike IWM Photo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trajan Posted 19 October , 2015 Share Posted 19 October , 2015 Not so much swords into ploughshares as bayonets into reaping hooks... Hmmmm... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
high wood Posted 19 October , 2015 Author Share Posted 19 October , 2015 No maker mark, ok, but check the pommel on the reverse side as there may be a fraktur mark just above where the bayonet catch was. That might just indicate the probable maker. There is a very feint letter mark which looks like a capital D in Gothic script unless my eyes are deceiving me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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