Original German WWI M1898/05 n/A Butcher Sawback Bayonet by ANKER-WERKE with Steel Scabbard & Leather Frog Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very good 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 n/A (neuer Art = newer model). This second pattern lacks the first pattern’s vestigial muzzle ring (or ‘ears’) and has a flashguard on the back of the grip. For more information please see Watts & White, THE BAYONET BOOK, page 124, illustration 270.

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 has a blade in very good condition. There is little staining or rust, just overall wear from cleaning. It does not appear to have been sharpened much, and the sawback itself is in excellent condition.

The pommel has a nice set of original grooved wood grips, though they are somewhat dark in color due to staining, and the hilt has some surface oxidation due to age. Bayonet lock is fully functional. The blade ricasso is maker marked:

ANKER-WERKE
BIELEFELD

There are no markings on the crossguard, and there is just an inspection mark on the spine, so we do not know when this bayonet was accepted into service. Most likely it was accepted by one of the States of the German empire, not by Prussia, so it did not get the Wilhelm II Proof.

The steel scabbard is in good condition, though it does have a large dent on the back, which does not interfere with sheathing the blade. The original blued finish is mostly faded to a peppery gray, and there are areas of light surface rust, typical of a 100 year old scabbard. The frog button is still intact and unbent. The scabbard is held by a nice original brown leather frog (Seitengewehrtragetasche), which shows quite a bit of age. It still has the original stitching and rivets intact, however the securing strap is missing, and the belt loop is almost entirely torn through. The frog button hole is also torn.

A fine example of what is becoming a difficult bayonet to find in such fine condition, never messed with, just the way we like to find them, 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″