Original German Mauser Model 1871/84 Rifle Bayonet by Simson & Co. of Suhl with Scabbard Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice example of the rare Mauser Model 1871/84 rifle bayonet with scabbard, made for the kingdom of Bavaria and regimentally marked. The bayonet is in very good condition, with lots of clear markings. The M1871/84 was the first knife bayonet to become general issue in a major army, setting a trend that continues to the present day. Most of these bayonets were later altered into M1884/98 knife bayonets for the Gewehr 98 rifle, so finding one intact is extremely rare. This is the only example that we have had.

The steel blade is 10″ long and is in very good condition, with just a few small areas of pitting on the spine and other areas. It has been sharpened a bit, but still has a lot of the original factory machining marks. The blade ricasso bears the maker marking: 

SIMSON & Co.
SUHL

Simson & Compagnie was the largest manufacturer of edged weapons and firearms in Suhl, Thuringia, during the second half of the 19th century. They manufactured a lot of bayonets under contract to various kingdoms in the German Empire, and also had numerous international contracts.

The Spine of this bayonet is marked (CROWN) / L / 88, indicating acceptance in 1888 by Bavaria. At that time, the official King was Otto, however he was judged mentally unfit to rule, and his uncle Prince Luitpold of Bavaria was appointed regent, so the royal monogram of an L was left in place.

The bayonet is also regimentally marked on the Cross guard in the typical German fashion, with B. 4. R. 8. 44 stamped below the maker mark. The scabbard also has regimental markings, with an older Bavarian mark struck through, and B. 4. R.E. 1. 60. stamped into it. These most likely indicate issue to the 4th Royal Bavarian Infantry “King William of Württemberg” Regiment.

A very nice example of this very rare bayonet and scabbard, fully marked and read to display!

The Mauser Model 1871 adopted as the Gewehr 71 or Infanterie-Gewehr 71, or “Infantry Rifle 71” (“I.G.Mod.71” was stamped on the rifles themselves) was the first rifle model in a distinguished line designed and manufactured by Paul Mauser and Wilhelm Mauser of the Mauser company and later mass-produced at Spandau arsenal.

Paul Mauser developed his bolt-action rifle from 1867 to 1871. During 1870–71 trials with many different rifles took place, with the “M1869 Bavarian Werder” being the Mausers’ chief competitor. The Mauser was provisionally adopted on 2 December 1871, pending the development of an appropriate safety. With support from the government’s Spandau arsenal, the improvements to the safety mechanism were completed and the rifle was formally accepted on 14 February 1872 as Infantry Rifle Model 1871 by the German Empire excluding Bavaria. General issue to troops began in late 1873 and all units had been converted by the spring of 1875.

The design was updated in 1884 with an 8-round tubular magazine designed by Alfred von Kropatschek, making this Germany’s first repeating rifle. This version was designated the Gewehr 1871/84, and a new shorter bayonet was developed for this rifle. These bayonets are extremely rare on the market today.