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 web), or Seitengewehr Tragetasche, on the left side of the equipment belt in combination with the shovel and its carrier. The maker marks on k98 bayonets were 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: 1507 / h and S/155G
Material: Blued steel
Grip material: Ribbed Bakelite
Scabbard Markings: 1507 and 43 / cof

Condition is very good, with lots of original bluing on blade, nice dark 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 up to the soldier or arsenal, this example has been sharpened. There is some wear on the last inch or two from runner wear, but overall the blade is very nice, having been protected by the scabbard. The grip scales are in good shape, with no chips, and just some light scratches. The bluing on the handle and scabbard is still mostly present, showing wear from service and age. We can see two early "stick eagle" Weimar pattern Waffenamt stamps on the end of the pommel, however we cannot make out the number underneath.

The blade ricasso is marked with serial number 1507 / h, while the reverse is marked with a Zahlencode (number code) that was used from 1925-1940 to obscure manufacturers, and often had a date suffix after them. S/155G is the code for the well-known maker E. & F. Hörster of Solingen, the legendary "City of Blades" in Western Germany, and the G indicates that this example was manufactured in 1935.

The scabbard is in very good shape, with the steel shell still straight and dent free, however it definitely looks to have seen a good amount of wear, and was later repainted once the blued finish wore away. We can see some oxidation under the repaint, which looks to have been done some time ago. The scabbard is marked with 1507 without a letter prefix, and the reverse is marked 43 / cof, indicating 1943 manufacture by the legendary Carl Eickhorn of Solingen, arguably the most famous of all makers. While the serial number does match the blade, they were made 8 years apart by different makers, and are not "matching."

The included black leather bayonet frog is of the early war type, featuring a grip retaining loop, however it also has the wartime style steel rivets. It is definitely worn from service, with the original finish showing cracking and deterioration, and the leather itself is wrinkled and a bit delicate. We can still see a maker mark and date on the back: gfg / 1943 for production by Karl Hepting u. Co., Leder- u. Gürtelfabrik (Leather and Belt Factory) of Stuttgart.

An original German Pre-WWII 98k Bayonet by a desirable Solingen maker with a scabbard with 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"