Swiss 1918/55 Bayonet

I successfully won a Swiss 1918/55 bayonet on eBay today. A bayonet I didn't even know I needed until two days ago. Didn't know they existed. To have found one that quickly is rather amazing. Amateur bidders, I was watching two of them going up $2.50 bids all afternoon. Dead giveaway neither was bidding more than that. My bid was much higher than my winning bid but that was only $2.50 over their last one.

Apparently only about 13,000 of these made which is pretty low for bayonets. It's a 1918 bayonet with a heavier hilt.

If I can find my 1918 bayonet which I could not last evening, I will post the two of them together so you can see the difference once it arrives. Delivery will be a couple of weeks so I have time. Best way to describe it is the hilt looks pregnant compared to the standard.

Which one Steve, this one?

If so, I had one of those for ages. Long gone now though. Found out it almost fits the M1 rifle, just the ears on the gas cylinder lock holding it away. Apparently they used it for the pattern for the Krag bayonet, some even were machined to fit the Krag.

That one looks like the standard 1918 bayonet. The difference is easy to see when they are together, a little harder when not. It was the earlier bayonet that was used as the pattern for the Krag. The one that had a groove.

Home from work so I have some time. These images are from Worldbayonets.com

This is a Swiss 1918 bayonet:

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../HwGCiN0-1.jpg

This is a Swiss 1918/55 bayonet:

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../uRz8NnO-1.jpg

They don't seem to know why they changed the bayonets so late in the production series but they started late in 1955 around 250,000 serial number. Production of the K31 stopped in 1958 around 263,000 serial number. All 1918/55 bayonets are serial numbered within this range which makes it easier to identify if they are by themselves. As I said, I wasn't aware there was a change. I thought I had all the Swiss bayonets up to the current on and minus one or two variations of the sword style saw backs.

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

The one that had a groove.

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Right, that's right.

the one I posted is supposed to be the '18/'55 bayonet but perhaps they got it wrong. I don't know which mine was, marked Waffenfabrik Neuhausen but was the double edge like yours. I suspect it was the 1918 blade. It was perfect and I have no idea where it went...

This is the one that I won. Is going to take longer than 2 weeks as I was notified they are sending it by ship due to Covid restrictions.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../ZgXHdBg-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../SYYjCls-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../Jzzagfw-1.jpg

Nice, nice, nice...so do you have the rifle or do you need to get that next?

I have a K31 and two K11's so I'm good. Also have the 1881, 1889, 1896/11, 1911.

Bayonet arrived yesterday. Took a bit longer than expected due to shipping.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../oI9hz1F-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../iS3sum4-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../l4UFk70-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../3tCtVia-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../UWi4C1V-1.jpg

Gorgeous, muzzle ring looks to have a slight backwards incline...have you tried it on an M1 to see how close they come? Mine all but fit, really close. What a nice looking piece of ordnance that is.

I have not tried an M1. Next time I have it out maybe I will. It almost looks like it was chromed but isn't quite shiny/polished enough, possible dress bayonet but the scabbard obviously is not. Covered with grease when I got it. More important to me is finding my 1918 and direct comparing the two. They say the blade is slightly heavier on these also but until I find the other, I have no way of knowing. The small triangle is supposed to be unique to this variation.

Mine was the same sort of polish with some wear marks, I don't think they're chromed. Just really nice stuff...

Left to right 1899 1889-18 1918 1918/55 I think I got the designations right.

My 1918/55 has no serial number. Oddly most of these came from Midway USA a few years back.

Are you sure that's a 1918/55? Could be the angle it was photographed but it looks the same as the 1918.

Swiss soldiers were allowed to have their bayonets plated (at their own expense) in order to make them easier to maintain, so plated examples do turn up occasionally.

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

Are you sure that's a 1918/55? Could be the angle it was photographed but it looks the same as the 1918.

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I thought it was. I have looked at all the photos here and on the internet and the differences are quite subtle (at least to my eye).
I will attempt some better photos and post for review.

Thanks

---------- Post added at 10:34 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:33 AM ----------

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Originally Posted by marysdad

Swiss soldiers were allowed to have their bayonets plated (at their own expense) in order to make them easier to maintain, so plated examples do turn up occasionally.

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My 1899 appears to be chromed or at least highly polished.

The belly on the 1918/55 is just under 1 1/8 inches thick. Side by side the difference should be obvious. The angle it is laying in the photo could be hiding the belly. I don't have my 1918 out to compare but it's probably a 3/16th inch smaller by comparing the photos.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

The belly on the 1918/55 is just under 1 1/8 inches thick. Side by side the difference should be obvious. The angle it is laying in the photo could be hiding the belly. I don't have my 1918 out to compare but it's probably a 3/16th inch smaller by comparing the photos.

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Better angle?

Now I feel silly. I thought the update was in the metal end of the pommel. I looked again at your photos after you described the "belly".

Yeah, pretty sure they are both 1918's.

The 1908/55's are all said to have the triangle under the Swiss cross in the cross guard. Most but not all are serial numbered. Most but not all others are serial numbered also but yours not having one means it was a replacement that was never issued. The serials match the rifle they were assigned too.

Looks like the grip scales got shorter as they went along too...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

Yeah, pretty sure they are both 1918's.

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I will measure the "belly" and take a profile photo. If it is not a 18/55 I guess the hunt is on now that I know I am short one.

No joy none of mine have the enlarged belly. Let the hunt begin.

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Originally Posted by HOOKED ON HISTORY

Let the hunt begin.

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Here we go again...good luck with this one.

They probably will not be identified as a 1918/55. Mine was not. Look for serial numbers over 250,000. Standing by themselves, they do not stand out as being different. Keep a copy of the earlier comparison photos I posted here so you're sure. Don't help the seller out, they find out only 13,000 of them were made the price will go up.

I currently am watching another bayonet that actually is listed correctly (not Swiss) that I'm hoping to snag. This is also a bayonet which has proved elusive for me to find and I didn't know this one existed until about a year ago. Not particularly rare but mislabeled constantly and it's another I don't think many know about as they have it confused with another close variation. If I get it, I'll post it.

Lost out on a knife point cut 1903 bayonet today. Sat at $53 for a week. Sold for $129 in the last 5 seconds. $28 over what I really wanted to pay although I did go a bit more. I was still at least the third highest bidder, not the second on this one. Few years ago when I was ignoring these, they were $60.00.

Great tip will post results