Original Item. Only One Available. “Ersatz” bayonets and scabbards are emergency war-time issue bayonets made for reserve and rear-line troops. Ersatz translates to “replacement”, and they were constructed of whatever happened to be on hand, resulting in some very interesting examples. This type is rated by J. Anthony Carter as an R.9 out of 12 in the rarity category, “Very rare with less than ten known examples, sold within the last 5 years”. See GERMAN BAYONETS VOLUME III pages 155 -157 by J.A.CARTER, published by the Tharston Press 1992.
Constructed by Germany during WWI using an Ersatz all steel hilt and a British P-1853 socket bayonet scabbard that had been cleaned of all British markings and stamped with a Gothic Crown over W German acceptance marking, for Wilhelm II, the Emperor (Kaiser) of Germany until the end of WWI. The triangular blade is 17 1/2″ long, with an overall length of 22 1/2″. The bayonet comes complete with its all steel tubular ersatz scabbard with brass frog stud.
J. Anthony Carter passed away in 2001, but his four volume work “GERMAN BAYONETS” is acknowledged as the supreme reference work on the subject, most especially the Ersatz Volume (No.3), which was his great passion throughout his lifetime.
A rare Ersatz Bayonet Type 69 complete with scabbard, ready to display.