Original German WWII 98k 1939 dated Battle Damaged Bayonet by F. Herder Abr. Sohn with Scabbard & Frog Original Items

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. Early WWII bayonets from some makers also had markings on the spine.

Model bayonet: Seitengewehr 84/98 III

Markings (bayonet): 8487/ a, F. HERDER A. SN and 39 (on spine)

Markings (Scabbard): 6485 and 44 asw

Material: Blued steel

Grip material: Ribbed Bakelite

Condition is very good aside from the battle damage, with very good original bluing on blade, bakelite grips intact and a working locking button. The blade has the factory “sharpening”, which did not really make the blade sharp: that was up to the soldier. Finish on the blade is excellent, with just the usual runner wear from the scabbard.

The damage is to the grip of the bayonet, and really is quite interesting. There looks to be heat as well as impact damage to the left grip scale, which even was able to damage the steel underneath, as well as the flashguard on the back, bending it to the right. There is also some heat damage on the right grip as well. From what we can see, this doesn’t look like a bullet strike, but more likely from hot shrapnel or something similar. Definitely a very interesting look, impossible to duplicate! 

The blade is marked by maker F. HERDER A. SN, or Friedr. Herder Abr. Sohn. This is a well known edged weapon producer from Solingen, the “City of Blades” in the mountains of Western Germany. The spine of the blade is marked 39, for 1939. Shortly after this manufacturers made the move to three letter codes, so this is a very nice matched early war example.

According to J. Anthony Carter’s book, GERMAN KNIFE AND SWORD MAKERS, the Herder family can be traced back to 1623, when Arndt, Jürgen and Wilhelm Herder were making knives in Geylenbergh. In the 19th Century, Friedrich Herder formed his own company, Friedrich Herder Abraham Sohn (Abraham’s Son).

The scabbard is marked 44 asw, for 1944 manufacture by E. & F. Hörster, of Solingen. It is in good but worn condition, and is missing the original throat retension screw. The scabbard is held in a very nice leather frog with aluminum rivets, marked on the back WITTKOP & Co / BIELEFELD / 1939. It shows wear, and two rivets are popped, but the stitching is intact and it still has a lot of the original finish.

A very interesting battle damaged 98K bayonet by a well-known maker, complete with bayonet and frog. Ready to display or fit to your 98K rifle!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 10″
Blade Style: Single Edge w/ Fuller
Overall length: 15 1/4“
Crossguard: 1 1/2”
Scabbard Length: 10 1/2″