To be honest, I wasn't looking for one. I'm a collector of opportunity, flea markets, yard sales, antique dealers. Unless it's something very specific to fit a rifle I already have, then I get a bit more serious about the search. I've been watching for a GEW 98 but have not yet found one at a price I can afford so the bayonet for it has been on the back burner.

I spotted this one about three weeks ago at an antique flea market. Guy had $90 on it and I didn't have either the $90 or the desire to get it so didn't think much about it. This weekend, he had a sign 50% off everything on table so that made me a bit more interested. Checked the price guide for "Germanicon" ersatz bayonets as that's what I thought it was and what he was selling it as and figured I'd be pretty safe at $45. Went back to look at it again and took my time with it and he offered it to me for $40 which made it even better. So that's the basic story. Wife was with me and I was telling her how cool it was to finally have a German WWI bayonet, why it was made the way it was etc. She seemed mildly interested. I figured as I'll eventually get a GEW 98, may as well get a bayonet ahead of time.

Now I'll just look for a Chinese Mauser, something else I don't recall ever seeing but my books say they are reasonably easy to find so I'll keep my eyes open for one.