Original German WWI M1898/05 a/A Butcher Sawback Bayonet with “High Horns” by Simson & Co. – dated 1915 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice example of the M-1898/05 Bayonet (Seitengewehr), which was the most common German Bayonet of the First World War. It was intended for use on the standard issue service rifle of Imperial Germany: the Mauser-designed Gewehr 98 (GEW 98). It features a heavy 14.5-inch steel blade with distinct bulge toward the point, giving extra weight and power to the business end, known as a “butcher blade”. This version is known as a/A (alter Art = old model). These early pattern bayonets were made with a vestigial muzzle ring, known as “high horns”, and did not have a flashguard on the back of the grip.

Almost all examples of the a/A would later have the “horns” ground away, so it is very rare to find an intact example such as this!

This example has a very desirable “sawback” blade, which was intended for use by pioneers to saw through brush and obstacles. Unfortunately a rumor got out that it was intended to inflict grievous harm on enemies, so a lot of the sawback bayonets had this feature removed, making them hard to find.

This example is a very nice butcher sawback and has a very nice set of original
grooved wood grips, which show only light wear with some small dents and scratches, and one chip towards the hilt. The hilt has a functional bayonet lock, and is in really good condition. The blade is dated on the blade’s spine 15 under a proof mark of a Crown over W., for Kaiser Wilhelm II, and indicating the date it was accepted into service.

The blade ricasso is maker marked SIMSON & Co / SUHL, indicating manufacture by Gebrüder Simson (Simson Brothers) in Suhl, Thuringia, Germany. This company, later known as Simson & Cie, was a major manufacturer in the Suhl Area, and later began production of bicycles and other items in addition to edged weapons. At the onset of WWI, the company had 3500 employees, however in the post war depression, they had to fire 2/3 of their workforce. The company continued trading and was again successful, however since the Simson family were Jewish, they found the company headquarters occupied by the SA in 1933. The company was then forcibly renamed BSW, and pressed into service making small arms. Thankfully, the Simson family was able to emigrate to the U.S.A. in 1936. For more information please see J Anthony Carter’s excellent work GERMAN KNIFE AND SWORD MAKERS.

The steel scabbard unfortunately has almost all of the original finish completely worn away and is not covered in a minor coating of surface rust. However it only has a few small dents, which do not interfere with sheathing the blade.

A very nice example of a hard to find German Butcher Sawback bayonet, complete with scabbard. Ready to display!

Dimensions:

Blade length: 14 1/2”
Blade Style: Single Edged “Butcher” with Fuller & Sawback
Overall length: 19 3/4”
Crossguard: 2 3/4”
Scabbard length: 15 1/4″