Original Item: Only One Available. In 1935 the German military introduced the K98k bolt action rifle or Karabiner 98 Kurz, as a replacement for the older GEW98 or Gewehr 98. A new, shorter bayonet was designed to go along with the shortened rifle. The K98 bayonet was officially named Seitengewehr 84/98 III or SG 84/98 III. The bayonet was designed as a close combat sidearm that could be placed on the tip of a K98.
The total length of the K98 bayonet was 15.2 inches, far shorter than the 20 inch long GEW98 bayonet. The blade was also straighter in shape and the hand guard was omitted. The K98 bayonet was carried in a leather frog, or Seitengewehrtragetasche, on the left side on the equipment belt in combination with the shovel and its carrier. The maker marks on k98 bayonets where stamped onto the top of the blade. On the reverse the batch number and suffix were stamped.
Model bayonet: Seitengewehr 84/98 III
Bayonet Markings: 855 / a, S/245, and 36. Stamped 841 later
Scabbard Markings: 4874 / a, E. u. F. Hörster, and 1939. Stamped 841 later
Material: Blued steel
Grip material: ribbed bakelite
Condition of the bayonet is excellent with much original bluing on blade, bakelite grips intact, and a working locking button. The blade has the factory “sharpening”, which left the blade quite dull, often with a 1mm wide edge. Sharpening for use was was up to the soldier or arsenal. The finish is very good, with the usual runner marks from the scabbard. The bakelite scales are in very good shape, with no chips, and just some light wear. The bluing on the handle is quite nice, with just a bit of rust in areas.
The bayonet blade bears serial number 855 / a, and the pommel is Waffenamt marked. The blade ricasso is also marked with the Zahlencode (number code) that was used from 1925-1940 to obscure manufacturers, and often had a date suffix after them, though this does not. Code S / 245 indicates manufacture by AG für Feinmechanik vorm. Jetter & Scheerer located in Tuttlingen, Württemberg. The Spine marking 36 indicates 1936 manufacture.
The scabbard is marked with serial numbers 4874 / a. The pommel is Waffenamt marked and the blade ricasso is also marked with E. u. F. Hörster / 1939, indicating 1939 manufacture by the well-known maker E. & F. Hörster of Solingen, the legendary “City of Blades” in Eastern Germany. Both the bayonet scabbard were marked with matching number 841 after production, but we have no way of knowing whether this was done during the war, or post war.
Bayonet and scabbard come complete with a VERY rare Deutsches Afrikakorps (DAK) bayonet frog, made from heavy olive green canvas, the usual color for DAK field gear. These frogs are very hard to find on the market, and are very desirable, especially when paired with the correct bayonet and scabbard. Condition is very good to excellent, with very little wear.
An original German WWII 98k Bayonet and scabbard, both in very good condition, complete with a rare original DAK frog. Ready to display or fit to your 98K rifle!