Swiss Bayonet Comparison

[Aragorn243]

This is not all of them but it is most of the main bladed versions:

From top down:

1889 Schmidt Bayonet - This is the bayonet the US Krag bayonet is patterned after.

1889/1918 Schmidt Bayonet - These are 1889 bayonets with a stud added to keep the bayonet more securely in the scabbard. Note in the second photo, the stud is not on both sides. The bayonet was drilled through, the stud welded in place and the fuller on the reverse side ground smooth. You can see the round "hole" if you look carefully.

1899 Schmidt Bayonet - A ridge was added to the fuller to keep the bayonet more securely in the scabbard

These three bayonets are essentially the same and will fit the same rifles, the 1889 through 1911 rifles. Scabbards are interchangeable.

1918 bayonet - not interchangeable with above bayonets. Roughly the same size but muzzle rings are different, for K11 and K31. Scabbard is NOT interchangeable even though Joe Poyer's book says they are. This bayonet will not fit in the earlier scabbard.









The next photo adds three bayonets. The top two are:

1887 Sword bayonet with saw back - This bayonet is for the Vetterli 1878 and 1881 rifles. This is a side mount bayonet and very impressive when mounted to the rifle which alone is very long. This is a modified 1878 saw back bayonet with a cutout on the muzzle ring to fit around the front sight. This particular bayonet has a metal scabbard similar to the later 1911 Schmidt bayonet with sawback. Most appear with a metal tipped leather scabbard. The 1914 bayonet will not fit in the 1887 scabbard.

1914 Schmidt bayonet with sawback - This is the slightly modified original bayonet for the K-11 rifle which was originally designed for engineers. This blade adds the bulge to the end of the blade With most nations moving towards carbines, these rifles were later issued with the 1918 bayonet. This bayonet was also issued in small numbers with K-31's, again with engineer units and a few other support troops.

Contrary to popular belief, these bayonets were not designed to terrorize the enemy or create worse wounds. They were designed for use, cutting timber, posts, etc. And in this, they are incredibly effective. I can saw through a 2x4 in less than a minute with either of these.









The bottom bayonet in the photo is:

1957 Pattern Bayonet - Issued with the stgw 57. Scabbard is plastic.

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.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Thanks.
I guess I have a good start having the first four & a couple of the stg 57s. Now if I could just bring myself to spend the $$$ for the saw backs.
PS i got very lucky on the 1889 variants Midwayusa had the 1889s on sale a while back so I bought several and got one of each variant.
I think I used up all my good luck on that purchase.

[Aragorn243]

The 1911/14 saw backs are bad, the Vetterli saw backs are ridiculous. The first was a bit over $100, the second a bit less than $300. You'd be lucky to get the first for $200 now. Most guys trying to get $400+ for the Vetterli but they can be found for less.

[Beerhunter]

My 1888/1918 has the muzzle ring modified to fit the K11 and K31.

I inadvertently started my collection by going into a shop (in Switzerland) to get a 1918 for my K31 but they had a bucket of assorted bayonets, c/w scabbards and frogs for CHF30 each, so I bought one of each. (No saw-backs though.)

[A square 10]

nice collection , i once had some but not all by any means , you have a lot of exceptional pieces

my very few -

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

I am attempting to catch up. Have a lead on a saw back but you have set the bar rather high. Very nice collection.

[gwpercle]

Awesome collection.
Makes me wish I had bought some. In the late 50's and 60's the local military surplus store had tables piled high with bayonets , selling them for $5.00 each , except the sawbacks...$10.00 each. My two high school buddies and I each bought 1911 Carbines ($19.95 ) but they let us walk out without selling us matching bayonets...maybe we didn't have any more money. But those sawbacks sure generated some stories, we were told if a soldier was caught with one, the German's shot him on the spot. I still have and shoot my K-11 and a buddies who no longer wanted his and sold it to me.
Darn...wish I had bought some blades then, they sure look great!
Thanks for posting....gary

[Beerhunter]

we were told if a soldier was caught with one, the German's shot him on the spot.

It's unlikely because the Swiss and Germans were never at war.

However the story has also been told of British soldiers treatment of German Soldiers found with Pioneer bayonets.