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Remembered Today:

WW1 GERMAN BAYONETS FROM MY COLLECTION


zuluwar2006

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I really know next to nothing on the huge variety of Ersatz Bayonets...... On German conversions of older German, I have a belief of sort’s. As most Great War Bayonet collectors know, No country was really prepared for war military / arm’s wise. It is well known that Germany got creative in 1914-15 and converted almost any type bayonet they could find, as long as it could be made to work on their rifles.

 

I believe all types of M71 rifle bayonets were used with the N71 rifles in reserve and other rear type units. The 2 bayonets that pre- date the M71 that also saw limited use were the M65 pioneer / PFM, used on the Dreyse M65 as a pioneer bayonet and the 1860 fusilier bayonet, both simply had their MRD, muzzle ring reduced with simple bushing

 

Now there are a few German bayonets from the 1850’s, Wurttemberg, and Baden that I remember that had Yatagan blades and nearly the exact type/ shape hilt/ handle, both state’s I believe had a few of their own Rifles, outside of the Dreyse, Dreyse usually were with bigger barrels. MRD of 21mm or slightly larger. These older models seem to have about the same MRD as the M71 of 17.4.  There may be 4 or 5, I am not sure, The state of Baden had 2, maybe 3, brass handled, and Wurttemberg had, to me what looks the same hilt , only in steel,  .... Baden M53,   55 and I think M58 with Werttemberg the M58, 59. and M60 in steel, in books I have seen these older bayonets with a “ one step” milled in back of pommel to fit the M71 from what I read............If any of these were unit marked for the Great War, then to me it would have been for “older reserve “ troops stationed in Germany, maybe 50 year olds or older, just a guess.

 

The bayonet here is a Baden, either a model 53 or 55 I think. Demitrios new bayonet started out as one of these, converted like you see with a step cut, then later re- hilted 

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On 26/02/2020 at 21:35, zuluwar2006 said:

An extremely rare ersatz sword bayonet. 

Conversion with the Baden 185571 sword bayonet blade. 

This bayonet was made from a serrated steel grip fitted with a blade from the Grand aDuchy of Baden. 

The work was done in the Altona Artillery Depot. 

The bayonet has still a lot of rust on it. 

Traces of original marking for A. D. ALTONA are visible on the back of the grip. This is the only model with this unit marking, as far as I know. 

This is an extremely rare model and only very few exists. 

This is the only one I have seen during my life, as a collector. 

When cleaned enought, I will repost new photos. 

Regards

D. 

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This extremely rare ersatz bayonet was made for use only to the Gewehr 98 rifle. 

Until today, only 2 specimens from this extremely rare ersatz convertion  (with Baden 1855/71 blade) had been recorded, but none with A D ALTONA marking. 

On Roy William book, the reference is EB66 and number 543.

Overall Length 692 mm

Blade length 571 mm

Blade width 29 mm

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

   An extremely rare naval unit marking on ersatz bayonet (extremely rare), model EB 3 (variation) on Roy William's book for ersatz bayonets. 

    As far as I know, this is the ONLY unit marked ersatz bayonet with naval unit marking, so a UNIQUE EXAMPLE. 

    Unit marking is = I M D (1st Matronen Division) number of weapon 4945.

Gothic royal stamp on the edge of the blade. 

length total is 47 cm. 

This naval unit marking is for land based personnel and it means the 1st Sailors Depot Division (existed and the II M D). 

As sailors were not usually prioritized as front line fighters, they were issued with mismatched, obsolete or captured bayonets. 

We have seen during ww1 the use of S 71/84, S 98, S 98/05 and S 84/98 bayonets, but NEVER an ersatz bayonet. 

During the early colonial period, they carried the Fusilier Seitengewehr 1860 and the Hirschfanger 71 bayonets. 

Regards

D. 

 

 

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A very nice looking Ersatz and made even so much nicer by that unit marking! Well done!

Julian

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  • 1 month later...

A very very rare ersatz bayonet. 

Captured model 1893 Romanian bayonet with a unit marking. 

The Romanian model 1893 knife bayonet was similar in design to the S 71/84, but produced in Austria by the Steyr Factory, whose mark of OE above WG was stamped on the blade. 

The scabbard is steel with the same stamp as the blade. 

The unit marking on crossguard is 4.E.M.G.III which means

4.Ersatz - Mashinengewehr - Kompagnie des III Armeekorps

The M 1893 bayonet, because of the similarity to the S 71/84, was an obvious choice for arming the machine gunners. 

They wore this bayonet as sidearm and was only used to comply with the German rule that a side arm be worn by each german soldier

According to Carter, no record of this bayonet being issued with the Manlicher rifle has been found. 

On the back of the crossguard there are numbers but I think they are from origin Romanian unit marking. 

Regards and take good care of yourselves. 

D. 

 

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The bayonet is nice when its a romanian M93,so a captured piece,but the designation as ersatz is wrong,it was used mostly as sidearm,so didnt replace any modell of bayonet on german rifles,the date of capturing is as earliest 1916 real.

Edited by AndyBsk
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Hey Demitrios, that EB3 you show, besides being rare, I have not seen even a photo of one in such great condition, If was heavily cleaned, it would show rubbing/scrub marks, Yours must have been in an old chest/ closet for close to a century, great work

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Hey Demitrios 

I have always been a bit confused on certain bayonets. Hope you can educate me, if you will.

 

I have a few 71/84 bayonet’s. I thought Steyr, who made a lot of guns and bayonets, also made the 71/84 bayonet. It seem’s that several countries liked that blade/ bayonet and a large number of “ export” as most people term it, the 71/84 with simply a taller guard, different MRD.

some have the original hilt ( HUMPBACK) as we call them. Some others used same blade, but with strait back. I have looked around, but know find..... Do you have a list or know where one is of these Export “71/84” type bayonets by country?? I even have 1 or 2 of these exports, hump back with TALL cross guard but they are unmarked.  I simply do not know what, how many countries used them

 

 If you have spare time later. I hope you have been able to get back to work! Family is always first. 
Take care, and thanks for the post 

Steve

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Question on that bayonet is is there a MRD 17,4mm? as the bayonet doesnt look like a romanian M93, more real its a export piece mostly for M1904 or IRA and Gew71/ Gew88 rifles. So it could be saled by germans in Alfa teoretically in 1914, romanians have a romanian eagle proof on pommel. Any marking on frog hook and pommel?

There is missing the end number in the unit markings, no serials of weapon number.

Edited by AndyBsk
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Andy good day, 

This is certainly not a bayonet for M 1904 rifle. I attach some photos for the bayonet of the M1904 Mauser Vergueiro rifle. 

I must check it for Ira. 

No markings on frog hook and pommel. 

In 1904 the Portuguese adopted the M1904 Mauser Vergueiro. They did this to modernize there armed forces who were mainly using the old black powder designed 1886 Kropatschek rifles. The Mauser Vergueiro is a mix of primarily M98 Mauser features like a internal 5rd stripper clip fed magazine and a bolt designed by a Portuguese officer Jose Vergueiro. The bolt is more reminiscent to a M1888 Commission rifle than anything else, however it is a exceptionally smooth bolt.

The M1904 bayonets were made 1904–1909 by Simson & Co. of Suhl, Germany.

Approximately 75,000 were made, before Portugal ran out of money to continue production

Regards, D. 

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Certainly i dont speak about Verqueiro rifle M1904, there is exact copy of romanian M93 rifle,some even with remains of romanian contract proof, that are in 7,92x57I caliber, the bayonet is identical to romanian M93 with only exception, no proofs and 3 or 4 digits in right crossguard, but i looked to my sources the MRD is 14mm same as romanian. This is well documented butch of rifles that were saled to Irland prior 1910, is called M1904 modell, possible that similar bayonets were send with Gew71/88 rifles to same area, but the MRD should be 17,4mm offcoarse, some of the deliveries got UVF and are so marked. 

 

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Edited by AndyBsk
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Andy

My misunderstood and apologies. 

There are no proofs on frog hook for OEWG. 

Neither Phoenix symbol on pommel. 

I have not take measurements, I will inform you about properly. 

Here is a photo from the last edition of Merry Christian's book for ersatz bayonets. 

This bayonet catalogue as ersatz, Althought it had no use as a bayonet, but only as sidearm. 

There is a same unit marking without any weapon number. 

Also Carter on his book for ersatz bayonets has a same unit marking, again with no weapon number. 

If it is a 1904 bayonet, then we have a new, never described before, ersatz bayonet, unique. 

Regards

D. 

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I dont have Merys book but from the pictures of similar marked piece as Yours 4EMG III and FA and curvature of crossguard there are not romanians M93 in real, when not MRD14mm on other pictures,i personally believe these both pieces are 17,4mm which are not Romanian M1893 and even not M1904 export bayonets, these are similar as Yours presented mostly delivered with Gew71 or Gew88 rifles on commerzial market and buyed by germans in 1914. some wout unit numbers could be too a dress bayonets used for walking out, as many real confirmed romanian M93 bayonets were used post 1916 as NCOs sidearms, which is confirmed on period photos. Only the 5MG 94 marked piece looks like a M93 for me, unfortunally there are no side views of barell ring of the other pieces,possible Christian could answer what for pieces they are?

Evidently Your unit stamp and on Merys book is identical, to form, fonts same as to realisation,the G letter was damaged as is missing the horizontal part in middle as it looks more like C, evidently not the same piece, but by same unit, as the III is stamped per single die each, with no end serial number means a unit that was not assigned the bayonets to soldiers or rifle. Mostly depot stamping.So when Yours and Carter pieces are for Gew88 , Mery made a mistake as declared this as romanian M93.

Edited by AndyBsk
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Andy good morning. 

You make me wonder for a lot of questions. 

But after a lot of emails (I have plenty of time cause of coronoid virus) to a lot of friends and a lot of measurements, well this is the accurate description for this very rare bayonet. 

Irish Mannlicher M1904 Repeating Rifle

Also referred to as the 7.9mm Repetiergewehr M.93/13

Caliber 7.92x57mm, used a Gew.88 type clip. 12,000 rifles were sold to the Irish Ulster Volunteer Force (Protestant Militia). These 1912 Irish Contract rifles look very close to the M93 Romanian Mannlicher, but these rifles were produced with left over parts from the M1892 Romanian Mannlicher. The magazine box lacks the reinforcing ribs found on the M1893.
The rifles were issued with M1893 type Romanian bayonets with 3 digits serials not matching the rifles.

Most rifles and bayonets were stamped with 'UVF' and the crest 'For God and Ulster'. Blade 255mm, overall 380mm long. Muzzle ring dia 14.5mm. May have the Romanian Phoenix symbol on the pommel, but not always (this is the first characteristic). 

OEWG makers mark on the ricasso shows Austrian Steyr manufacture of bayonets supplied to Rumanian for onward sale. 

The 1893 has the Rumanian eagle on the pommel the 1904 hasn't, this is the "eye catch" variation between the two models

The 3 digit serial on the cross guard is typical of those on the UVF blades and is usually the only marking. 

Finally there is a great  difference between  M1904 UVF bayonet and Romanian 1893.

See the last attached photo for comparison reasons. The note press stud shape and the contour of the pommel is completely different on comparison to the Rumanian M1893 - note the phoenix stamp, contour of the pommel and the press stud which is perfectly oval.          

So indeed, the converted ersatz bayo  I posted, is an Irish M1904 UVF bayonet, which make this bayonet even rarer, as catalogue on ersatz Ww1 german bayonets as a new speciment!!!! 

If only could talk this bayonet.... From Romania, to Ireland and then back to Germany... 

Regards

D.        

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Edited by zuluwar2006
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Exelent find, I would have never known. Takes a sharp eye and the “ instinct “ to snatch it up. Do not think you will ever see another 

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Sorry but many errors there , there is no link from Romania to Irland, these rifles and bayonets were saled per belgian agent directly from Steyr, even parts were used from older romanian contract,that remained in storage. Romania didnt use the old 7,92x57I caliber.

Offcoarse the delivered bayonet to Irland never went back to Germany, as they are 14mm MRD, and there are no reports that would be saled off after 2 or 4 years. majority of Irish bayonets have 3 or 4 digits normally number little different  or similar as here.As the delivery was over 10000 rifles so they should be matching with rifles probably. I saw any with 4 digits and higher range too, when i remember corectly.

Offcoarse the magazine body is different as on M1893 because there is different clip and different ammo, romanian used 6,5x54R.

The crossguard could be not changed on this modell per blade only by removing the pommel,which is clearly not done here, so as mentioned Your bayonet is a export bayonet for Gew88/71 rifles, that were offered on commerzial market in early 20 century. Some were bought by UVF and Irland in that period, but some remained in ALFA catalog, were i assume were bought by Germans by start of war 1914 similar to Siam M88 bayonets and others.

I asked Christian for the 3 pieces on the presented page, his piece is in middle as mentioned, and is MRD14mm and romanian proofed, the upper,same units as Yours and lower one is not clear and mostly not romanian M93 in reality, but possible MRD17,4 and for export and for G88/71 rifles. In this case could be not called M1904 as the rifle is different.

Edited by AndyBsk
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1750700662_steyrRomanian.jpg.c7c704b749300eb2ad69497f3e7d1d16.jpgAndy,

Please check the photo with the Romanian 1893 bayonet and Irish M 1904.

There is no connection to the Gewehr 71 or 88 on this bayonet. 

NO MARKINGS TYPICAL FOR WW1 GERMAN BAYONETS ARE VISIBLE. 

Neither the OEWG was ever manufacturer on 71/84 german bayonets. 

The bayonet I have posted can ONLY be an Irish M 1904 bayonet (and it has the 3 digits on the crossguard and NO Romanian markings). 

Old Smithy is referring at his site 

"... lack of Rumanian markings indicates that this is the 1904 not the 1893.....

.... 3 digit serial typical of the Irish contract blades...". 

I am posting and 2 photos from Old Smithy, to see that this ersatz is exactly the same as an Irish M 1904 bayonet, which make it extremely rare, almost unique. 

On the first photo I have posted an Irish M 1904 side to side with a Romanian 1893 bayonet.

On the M 1904 Irish bayonet, which is EXACTLY THE SAME AS MINE, the note press stud shape and the contour of the pommel is completely different on comparison to the Rumanian M1893.     

So definitely an Irish M 1904 bayonet. 

Nevertheless, whether it went to Ireland or not, an extremely rare ersatz bayonet. 

Just for the record, the "Irish Brigade" was an attempt by Sir Roger Casement to form an Irish nationalist military unit during World War I among Irishmen who had served in the British Army and had become prisoners of war (POWs) in Germany.

On December 27, 1914, Casement signed an agreement in Berlin, authorizing the brigade, with German Secretary of State Arthur Zimmermann. Only 56 Irishmen volunteered and they were brought together at a POW camp at Limburg an der Lahn. 

The brigade received training in machine guns and were assigned German officers. They were attached to 203rd Brandenburg regiment and divided into two companies comprising ten Machine-Gun-Corps. They also received their own Irish Brigade uniform that was a standard German army uniform, adapted to include Irish symbols such as the shamrock and the harp.

So, indeed Irishmen did served on German army and on MG companies. We may assume that the thoughts of german headquarter were to have same rifles and bayonets as the Ira? I do not know. 

 

Bibliography = 

Das Zuchthausurteil gegen Karl Liebknecht (1919), in: Karl Liebknecht, Gesammelte Reden und Schriften, Tome 9, Dietz 1968, S. 14

And http://www.historyireland.com/20th-century-contemporary-history/casements-irish-brigade-uniform

Regards

D. 

P. S. I am amazed on how much we discover every day for ww1 ersatz bayonets, even 102 years after the end of war. 

 

 

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Edited by zuluwar2006
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Sorry Dimitrios, i discussed many times the thema with H.Hintermeier about M1904 rifles, and with Michael C.(irish bayonet specialist) some of his pictures are from his site here added by You, and inspizied some bayonets in 35 years.

You made a mistake by deciphering of Your bayonet.

-its offcoarse a rare piece, but was prepared for 17,4mm barell ring diameter as is visible on Your first pictures, or Your piece have a diameter of 14mm?? sn932 on right crossguard, could You measure Your MRD ?

-the M1904 bayonets have only MRD14mm!!, and the replacement of crossguard is possible by total dissmounting of handle, removing rivets, grips, pommel and adding a new larger barell ringed crossguard per end of tang,  this was not realised on Your bayonet

-all irish contract bayonets never went to english army and majority of them were delivered even in spring 1914 to anti UK units, how could be saled by germans in starts of WW1 per Alfa ?

-Carl Ziegler piece is offcourse M1904 but with 14mm MRD

-the shape of pommel is different per production and refurbishments

-important are the locking dimmensions and the MRD

-in Merys book on page that You presented, i asked already is only romanian M93 bayonet only with 3MG94 marked units, the other ones, the one with Your identical unit and FA lower position are in reality export bayonets for Gew71/88 rifles, as the MRD is 17,4mm, i asked Christian, and he couldnt confirm it as they both are not his bayonets, and he probably only presented its as unit variations!!

- there are listed some Gew88 rifles saled from Steyr on commerzial market per belgian agent in ALFA katalog mentioned in 1911, for these rifles was Your bayonet reserved and the units on Merys upper page piece ,Carters and Your pieces are identical, same as all were 17,4mm barell ring inner diameter.

-M1904 has exact numbers, and is known where it were delivered, and german army its not in the list.

-there exist not only 3 digits numbers on these bayonets.possible some of the ranges were made in 1000 serialed bunches.

Merys_romanian M93.jpg

Edited by AndyBsk
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Andy,

Very good the points at your opinion, and you have great knowledge.

Still I am stick in my opinion, until make the measurements on my own. The bayonet is in sellers hands (according the seller the mrd is 14,5 mm). 

Irish M 1904 bayonets were delivered on 1912 and 1913 (Mayebe some few on 1914), so BEFORE the start of Ww1, which was sudden and with no diplomatic or political preparation. 

There are no documents, as far as I know, to proove this export bayonet was for commercial purchase, as you insist. Please send me if you have any documentation. 

Observations=

1/ Shape of pommel on my bayonet  is identical as for  ALL M1904 Irish bayonets, so it is in all specimens posted.

There is NO variation on pommel catalogued anywhere, so this is proof for the identical and same on all m 1904 Irish bayonets, as the posted one by me, that is obvious. 

Please if you have any variation send it to me. 

2/ This shape is totally different from bayonets 71/84 and export Austrian 71/84 models. 

On the M 1904 Irish bayonet, which is EXACTLY THE SAME AS MINE, the note press stud shape and the contour of the pommel is completely different, in comparison to the Rumanian M1893 and 71/84, or export model 71/84  by Steyer.  

3/ I have NO record for any export Austrian bayonet 71/84 manufactured by OEWG sold to german army prior or during ww1. 

4/ as far as I know, the Gew 88 by steyer, manufactured from 1888 to 1896 and SOLD only to China and South America (that is why they call them EXPORT MODEL) until 1908 ensemble (with) export Austrian by OEWG 71/84 bayonets. 

A small quantity kept to Austria and used by Austrians NOT Germans, during ww1. 

5/ most important is to check the numbers on crossguard. 

On mine, the Irish M 1904, and Old Smithy (Mr. Carl Ziegler) there are 3 digits and not 4, as on export model by Steyer. 

6/ Also the numbers, are totally different when you observe an Irish M 1904 to an export 71/84 bayonet. 

Check carefully the spaces between the numbers, the shape of numbers, the line of the numbers, they are totally different. 

7/ on scabbard for mine bayonet, there is NO marking for OEWG, as it should be, if it was an export Steyer manufactured. 

7/ as far as I know, german army did not use commercial sold rifles, neither I have seen such documentation. If you have any, please share it with me. 

8/ During WWI, Germany supplied Austria-Hungary with 72,600 Gew 88s that were issued as the M13 in K.u.K. service.

So why Germans to use commercial rifles and bayonets for them (IF COMMERCIAL, THEN NO NEED FOR BAYONETS WITH THE RIFLE, AS ALL KNOW) when they supplied 72.600 Gew 88 to Austria, that is a fair question. 

9/ none of the knowledgable experts and collectors in Austria have found any mention of a contract for any bayonets like this example during the war.

The photo attached shows the numbering with 4 digits on an export Austrian 71/84 bayonet, which is totally different from 3 digits m 1904 Irish. 

I will do the measurements on mrd when got it and let you know. 

Great to have this discussion with you, I am very pleased. 

 

Here is the numbering on crossguard for the m 1904 Irish bayonet.

You can see the total difference on the numbering, as I have allready write, in comparison with export Austrian 71/84 bayonet. bfd837ec-02b4-42da-9583-18e53838ca4f.jpeg.cc26e6fbc3fb9d9aa0fd217c9fa0330b.jpeg

Regards

D. 

 

 

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Offcoarse wout measuring the diameter is the discussion wout any backgrounds but as i determined the pieces correctly in Merys book, because i have long year experience with Mannlicher bayonets. I dont believe Your piece has a 14,5mm MRD because when You look at the dimmension of hole and bring it to blade, which is the 27mm width near ricasso, the half of distance of width would correspond with 14mm, here remains only about 8/9 mm to border, so the hole is 17,4mm as mentioned, and for Gew88.

The points that You brought are partly builded on shape of pommel on serialing and similar items, which are non important in this case, as the bayonets were made in 2 decades romanian M93 and M1904.

1- non important technological variations, how many austrian export bayonets for Gew88 have You seen in collector life? 

2.non important shape of press button, technological changes

3. correct

4.wrong

5. as mentioned there exist 4 digits even 3 digits, on M1904 that went to Irland are confirmed mainly the 3 digits, but not so tight together as on Your piece, anyway this is for me not important

6.offcoarse different font numbers, as they were done in various time

7. many commerzial rifles were buyed per Alfa catalog in 1914

8.all is described in Hintermeier book.

9.i known minimum 4 word well known experts from Austria that known the pieces.

Offcoarse there exist austrian experts,

You need to buy the Heino Hintermeier book "In der Stunde der Not" there is listed complete list of rifles used by Austro Ugrian army.

How many experts on Mannlicher bayonets You known from Austria?

I already presented here that mr.Christian Mery made a mistake in his book, as presented on one page 2 Gew71/88 bayonets with german units stamps, that are not in reality romanian M93 as declared in text. You could ask him for details.

The most clasical designation of bayonet with barell ring is the diameter, when M1904 so Your piece is 14mm MRD, when 17,4mm so the piece is export bayonet for Gew71/88 rifles.

M1904.jpeg

Edited by AndyBsk
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Andy hello

If there is such a documentation from the 4 Austrian bayonet  experts, as described on my  number 9 point of view, I would like to send it to me. 

I want to thank all the collectors who are watching this topic. 

The views are now 19.200 and I did not expect this enthusiastic accept of my collection, by such great number of collectors. 

Thank you all. 

Your support indicates that I have donne a great job over the last 25+ years, collecting bayonets and Ww1 stuff with lot of personal sucrifices. 

Especially I must thank Steve, Julian, Motojosh, Prussian, Andy and so many others, because without your back up, advices and remarks, I would never continued  this topic. 

Also I want to dedicate this topic to my mentor, the late Roy Williams. He was a great teacher for me, also an excellent friend. 

Tomorrow I will post my last find, a unit marked 98/05 with a scabbard I was searching for years. 

Take care of yourselves. 

Regards

D. 

 

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Dimitrios Your collection is impresive, well collected in some years, congratulation on it,as mentioned for bayonet study is important read books about rifles and not only catalog bayonet books.

Problems by Carter, Williams, Merys publications occured because they were not experts on austrian production, they needed more information from monographies like were printed in Austria region. As different countries people will not research archives, that is the case as mr.Hintermeier 20 years was inside of KriegsArchive of Vienna and published Steyr production from original documents.

Roy Williams was my friend, and he was a great collector, anyway in his catalog-books are still some errors. As all people could make errors, problem is its already printed and some people believe ,what is there is the holy Bible of bayonet information.

I discussed before his passing away many time some problematic items of his volume I. directly with Roy. 

To Your point 4 about production of Gew88 sent to Germany, unfortunally i dont have time to research all my books and find the info about Gew88, but when You look to german version (not english) site of wiki there is :

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gewehr_88

"Von der ÖWG wurden im Auftrag des Deutschen Reiches bereits ab 1890 mehr als 300.000 Gewehre 88 gefertigt."

Certainly i recommend to all interested bayonet collectors that are focused on austria or different country bayonets production a native country historian publication the best choice Monographies. Russian authors write better about russian bayonets as the french could ever do, because they dont have link to original documents.

German authors are the best in discussion about german bayonets. Franz Ruediger books i recommend for all, when interesting about deep information about german bayonet models, their using in army and production variations.

Edited by AndyBsk
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Α very rare to find 98/05 alter Art (aA) bayonet with sawback removed. 

Unit marking is R.P.25.2.210

Which means =25th Reserve Pionier Bataillon, 2nd Company, number of weapon 210.

25 Pionier Bataillon is the 2nd Nassauisches which raised on 1.10.1909 in Mainz, Germany. 

Manufacturer is ERFURT. 

Date of construction is 1909 for Prussian State ( "W" and "09").

The impressive on this bayonet, is it kept unaltered, as aA model, althought it saw war service. 

The proof for war service is the fact of sawback removed, so this was donne according the regulations on 1917, during ww1.

Impressive also is the scabbard. 

It is marked K & R, a very rare manufacturer, rarely seen on bayonets scabbards, for manufacturer firm Kortenbach & Rauh. These scabbards are quite rare. 

Alter Art 98/05 bayonets are extremely rare to find, with sawback erased, as the majority of them altered to nA during ww1, with a flashguard added, and the cutting of the high ears. 

This model didn't receive any alteration, from aA to nA, which make it very rare. 

Also it is in almost perfect condition. 

I hope you like it. 

Regards

D. 

 

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Edited by zuluwar2006
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Hello zuluwar2006

I found in your post from 25 December 2018 a very rare bayonet, an IS 71/98. I´m searching for a long time to find a picture about this bayonet because it´s in no book that I have.

Now I´m very happy to found some pictures and informations in your post. You wrote, that only 3 of them are known .... I think, I have the 4th....

What I know about the Infanterie-Seitengewehr M 1871: Introduction March 22 1872 as a standard bayont in in two variants of blads (standard and sawback). In the early year 1914 the IS 71 got the hilt from the M 98/05 to use it on the Gewehr 98 and K 98a. The modification were only made by the manufacturer Simson & Co. Suhl. They used blades from other manufacturer. I´ve got my IS 71/98 with two other rarities from an old collector in Italy (Dolomites)

Best regards bickus61

 

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The majority of pieces S71/98 has the S1860 quilback blade or the Art.S1871 blade with new for rifle Gew98 handle. About the upgrade in Suhl is on site written, about all infos are correct??, i dont have exact data.

https://www.waffensammler-kuratorium.de/sgm71/sgm71ge.html

Edited by AndyBsk
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