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This is a recent purchase, a K98 bayonet, which is in excellent condition. There are no markings which I can see on the bayonet, it's self, but the scabbard has all the normal German markings that would be expected. The top grip cover plate has a cross hatching finish which seems a little unusual. I'm not sure if this is a refurbished bayonet out of storage or a reproduction bayonet recently made. I wondered what other members views are of this item, please? Thanks for any information.
It's somewhat crude for a German bayonet. Could be Spanish. They copied the K98 bayonet for their later Mauser rifles and are known to be cruder of finish. Very good condition whatever it is, which unfortunately means it could also be a reproduction.
It was sold to me as a post war Czech refurbishment of a WW2 German bayonet by the dealer. But having received it I'm not so sure and so wondered what others thought about it. The cross hatched cover plate is fairly distinctive which may help to I.D. it and the price that I paid wasn't too bad. I haven't been able to find anything else similar online so far.
I dug out my Spanish bayonet and it isn't anywhere near that rough. It also does not have the scales on the flash guard. I wouldn't think a refurbishment would remove the makers marks, especially as the blade is unsharpened. The Czech's produced some quality weapons so I don't think they would make anything that rough either.
It's a post war rework.
The dealer in question did have some information on his website a while ago about another bayonet which I wasn't sure about, whether or not it was correct. When I checked up elsewhere I found that what he had said about this other bayonet was correct. With regards to this K98 bayonet perhaps it's been reworked by someone other than the Czechs? Does anyone have any examples of Soviet reworked K98 bayonets that they are able to post pictures of, please?
Cosmoline in the cleaning hole. I doubt repros would be stored in cosmoline. Probably a rework like Porterkids suggests.
Are there normally any markings hidden under the grip scales of original K98 bayonets, please? Although I have several K98 bayonets I don't think that I've ever removed the grips.
Easy way to find out and it only takes a minute.
Have you taking the grips off to look for marking?
My genuine K98 Bayonet doesn't have the scales and one one side of the blade by the hilt has S/185 (makers mark Elite Diamant AG., Siegmar-Schönauand) the other 6017 and under that K (serial number), so I think it is a reproduction
Dick
I haven't taken the grips off yet but I am planning to take them off to have a look underneath. The blade has been roughly ground which could be part of the refurbishment, taking off any original markings, or it could be a poorly ground reproduction. I'm inclined to think that it is a post war refurbishment but possibly not by the Czechs?
Take the grips off already, the suspense is killing us. It doesn't look like a repro. Most repros have that brand new, shiny piece of crap look to them and this while new, looks like it's been around for a while.
It's not a reproduction. It's a post-WWII refurbished bayonet. Haven't gotten around to checking my files to see which country did them but I have seen quite a few of these. The flashguard is a dead give away. They all have this checkered style.
---------- Post added at 07:59 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:51 PM ----------
Just checked. East German rework. You don't show a scabbard. The correct scabbard will have a steel or aluminum rivet in place of the screw that holds the mouth/spring in the scabbard.
Here is a picture of the scabbard and as you say the screw has been replaced by a rivet. The mouthpiece appears to be brass; not sure if this is a replacement as part of the refurb?
I took a bit of a chance buying this bayonet and had to hope for the best. A post WW2 refurbished bayonet is interesting to me especially if done during the Cold War but a modern repro has no interest to me what so ever.
I'll report back later if there are any markings under the grips.
Thanks for the information porterkids. :thup:
Here are some pictures of the bayonet with the grips removed. There are several markings present under the grips but I don't know what they stand for.
The big R stands for REPRODUCTION. Just kidding. Looks legit to me and Porterkids is already positive and that's good enough for me.
F10, I have a had a couple of these over the years. All in exactly the same condition as you describe.
All have had the Nazi inspection (WaAmpt) removed from the Bayonet Pommels.
& also any / all information removed from the ricaso's.
They all had these replacement light wood grip scales as well. & the chequered flash guards.
All were re blued & traces of cosmoline in holes etc.
also can confirm the rivet in the throat retaining screw holes of the scabbards.
I am definitely of the opinion, that these are all post war reworks & put into that countries war reserves stocks.
I do not however, know who reworked them, or that country of origin. :(
But as stated, they may well be east German reworks.
You had me worried for a moment.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aragorn243
Post war reworks often have these cross hatched flash guard, and an aluminium rivet holding the mouth piece in, and blued
It's reassuring to know that the dealer who sold it to me was correct when he stated in his advert as it being refurbished, post WW2. It's handy to know which dealers you can trust.
Here is another refurbished K98 bayonet with the same crossed hatched top "flash guard". The difference with this one is that the markings have not been removed. It is in lovely condition and the blade appears to be of prewar manufacture. I assume from what we have discussed earlier in this thread that it is refurbished Post WW2 by East Germany. Why they left the markings intact on this example and not the other one I have no idea??? Thanks for any additional information.
Does that have bakelite grips or polished wood grips?.
They are bakelite grips. It doesn't appear to have been used since refurb so probably as is from military storage.