Mauser Bayonet ID help?

[gew8805]

Yes, the flashguard is seen on most German standard bayonets - both the Sg98/05 and the Sg84/98 and occasionally on others such as the S14 and even the Sg98. On the latter it was standard through the end of production in 1945. However, it is rarely seen on the Sg98 due to the fact that by 1915 when the flashguard was adopted the long Sg98 was being withdrawn due to it's unnecessary length. The Germans never shortened the Sg98 for issue but it was done, rarely, on a local level at times when one was damaged at the front and a unit armorer did the work needed when spares were not available to issue - the soldier still required a bayonet. When rotated back to the rear for rest, re-training, etc. the soldier would be issued a new, full length bayonet of proper pattern. Yours is a "turked" bayonet; the Turkish military shortened many bayonets in arms updating programs during the 1930s.

---------- Post added at 09:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:43 PM ----------

Yes, that metal strip is the flash guard.

Will it blow the grips off or just set them on fire? or scorch them?

I war-time practice, it was found that the grips could be, and often were, literally blown off. Or, they could also be charred and splintered. During the period of peace leading up to the War in 1914, apparently no one had fired the Kar98a with a fixed bayonet or at least had not noticed the results when they were. In wartime, rapid extended firing of the weapon caused the fixed bayonet to be damaged worse than anticipated, so........

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.