Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very appealing early WWII German Seitengewehr 84/98 III bayonet manufactured in 1940 by Weyersberg, Kirschbaum & Cie. of Solingen, complete with a mismatched steel scabbard and an especially desirable original tropical canvas web frog of the type associated with the Deutsches Afrikakorps (DAK). The bayonet retains its dark brown ribbed Bakelite grip scales, functional locking button, substantial portions of its original blued finish, and clearly legible early W.K.C. maker marking. The tropical frog is the standout feature of the set, remaining substantially intact and retaining a faint wartime ink maker stamp dated either 1942 or 1943.

The Seitengewehr 84/98 III was the standard bayonet pattern associated with the German Karabiner 98k, adopted in 1935 as the principal service rifle of the German armed forces. Considerably shorter than the long bayonets associated with the earlier Gewehr 98, the S84/98 III used a straight single edged blade with fuller, compact hilt, and no conventional projecting crossguard. It was designed as both a rifle bayonet and a general purpose close combat sidearm.

Model bayonet: Seitengewehr 84/98 III

Markings: 4477 / n, W.K.C., and 40 (on spine)

Scabbard Markings: 5745 / n, 41 cve

Material: Blued steel

Grip material: Ribbed Dark Brown Bakelite

Condition is fair with some bluing on blade, bakelite grips intact with scuffing and a working locking button. The blade has not been sharpened, and definitely has a good edge, so it should be handled with care. The dark brown bakelite grip scales are in fair shape, with no chips, but some mild scuffing. The bluing on the handle has some oxidation staining. The scabbard is in good shape, still showing some of the original bluing, though there is very heavy wear and oxidation.

The ricasso of the bayonet is stamped with the W.K.C. commercial trademark logo of legendary maker Weyersberg Kirschbaum & Cie of Solingen. This company is a famous manufacturer of military swords and cutlery in Solingen, Germany - a city famous since the middle ages for its metal-working and craftsmanship in sword making. Per J. Anthony Carter's fine work GERMAN SWORD AND KNIFE MAKERS, the traditional manufacturing of swords at WKC dates back to the year 1774 when the Weyersberg first registered the ''Kings head'' as their trademark. Later in 1883 the company merged with the Kirschbaums and the company Weyersberg Kirschbaum & Cie was formed, which continued into the Weimar Period. It then rebranded as W.K.C. Waffenfabrik GmbH, and produced many edged weapons during the NSDAP Period. The company is still in operation today.

The blade ricasso bears the serial number 4477 / n, and the scabbard bears serial number 5745 / n. The pommel is stamped with double Waffenamt WaA25 proofs, correct for this maker.

The rear of the scabbard is marked 41 cve, also for manufacture by Weyersberg Kirschbaum & Cie of Solingen but using the later three-letter format. So the maker of the bayonet and scabbard are the same, but the numbers are mismatched.

Bayonet and scabbard come complete with an original DAK web frog, which fits the scabbard nicely. The tan colored web frog is fully intact, though there is a tiny bit of wear to the stitching around the hole for the scabbard button. The reinforcement on the back of the strap button is mostly intact. There is a great ink-stamped maker’s mark that is difficult to read, with the last line being the year, either 1942 or 1943.

What makes this set particularly desirable is the combination of its 1940 dated W.K.C. bayonet, intact dark brown Bakelite grips, unsharpened blade, functional locking mechanism, wartime steel scabbard, and especially the scarce original tropical canvas web frog with surviving ink stamp. The mismatched serial numbers, oxidation, finish wear, grip scuffing, and minor frog stitching wear are all clearly disclosed, but the tropical frog gives the group considerably more visual and collector interest than a standard leather equipped example. It would display especially well with a Karabiner 98k or in a collection devoted to German WWII bayonets, Afrikakorps field equipment, or tropical web gear.

Specifications:

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