1914 S98 Bayonet identification

[Winterhawk]

The German S98 has arrived as promised here is the 1914 on bottom and a Peruvian S98 (circa 1909) on top. The Peruvian export bayonet appears to be chromed for parade use

[AndyBsk]

Is not chromed probably, only not used, it looks like depot piece. The both parts should be matched and serialed to rifle.

[Winterhawk]

Had a good look and you are right the Peruvian one isn't Chromed. There are no marks at all on the scabbard and the bayonet is only numbered with the Peruvian crest on the pommel. I understand however some of these were "nickel plated" as dress bayonets? What do you mean by "depot' - held in store in an arsenal?

[AndyBsk]

Your scabbard when not serialed on hook was a spare piece, replaced in time, normally there should be serial number on crosspiece and hook of scabbard, which is mainly matching. Yes that piece was longtime stored in army depot, as not using traces at all. By contractor also in Peru stored in army storages. There should be maker mark on ricasso, which made only 3 makers, Peru crest on pommel and serial numbers. The nickeled version could be exist, anyway i personally never saw one, it was probably nickeled in Peru already. Peru calls it M1909 not S98. germans produced a dress version of S98 bayonets.

https://www.lawranceordnance.com/default/bt10016.html

Edited 26 October , 2023 by AndyBsk

[trajan]

On 13/10/2023 at 11:11, AndyBsk said:

S.98nA in 1914 should be probably the last production year, even exist some reworks with flashguard added in early 1915 probably. Is there any unit marking? The M or N proof letter is correct for 1914 Suhl area.

Prussia cancelled continued manufacture of the S.98 shortly according to issued contracts shortly before 11 September 1914 in favour of the S.98/05 as the standard infantry bayonet. The official cancellation of all S.98 manufacture was sometime between October 1914 and 21st January 1915.

 

Edited 31 December , 2023 by trajan

[trajan]

On 14/10/2023 at 21:06, AndyBsk said:

... production of steel plate scabbards started in 1914 and continued into 1915, 

 

On 14/10/2023 at 21:06, AndyBsk said:

... production of steel plate scabbards started in 1914 and continued into 1915, 

I wonder if it was as early as 1914 Andy! It was not until January 1915 that Bavaria began to look into making steel scabbards for the 98/05 on account of cost and difficuties in getting leather , the first contracts being issued February 1915. Yes, a month or so into 1915, but...

Julian

Edited 31 December , 2023 by trajan

[AndyBsk]

Possible it was canceled earlier in spoken way, but documents were realised later, i assume already in late 1914 they have areas of trench fight, so the long blade with leather scabbard was probably damaged in large numbers per condition of trenches.