Original Imperial German WWI Private Purchase Kurzes Seitengewehr M1898 Sawback Bayonet by Erfurt with Scabbard
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Original Item: Only One Available. This is a nice service-worn example of the rare Kurzes Seitengewehr (Short Sidearm) M1898 Sawback Dress Bayonet, complete with its scabbard. This was just found in an old attic, untouched for decades, and we have left it as found to preserve the history and patina.
Intended for use on the Mauser GEW 98 rifle, the bayonet design is based on the earlier M1871/84 bayonet with a 10 inch blade, and the first model of these were converted from those bayonets. This example was purpose made in this size, and was not converted. The sawback version of these are very rare, and seldom seen. For more information on the variations of this type, please see Watts & White, The Bayonet Book, Pages 120-122.
This example has a very nice set of original wooden grips, which are more rare than the checkered bakelite grips on this model. The bird's head pommel is in good shape, with a lovely oxidized patina, and the bayonet lock is fully functional. It does not look like this bayonet was ever nickel plated, so it may have been issued "in the white". There is a small bit of material loss in one spot on the pommel, which doesn’t look like loss due to oxidation, and could possibly be a casting bubble.
The blade is in good condition, with heavy staining on the bright finish, and the original "sawback" is still quite sharp. This example is marked ERFURT under a Crown on the ricasso for manufacture at the Royal Erfurt Arsenal, located in Thuringia. The spine is proof marked Crown / W directly in front of the cross guard, for Kaiser Wilhelm II, the German Emperor. Under this is 14, indicating acceptance in 1914. The steel scabbard has a lovely patinated appearance, and is still solid, with some small dents.
All in all a nice example of the very rare dress Short Model 1898 Sawback Bayonet of WWI, in good shape with the correct scabbard. Ready to display!
Dimensions:
Blade length: 9 7/8”
Blade Style: Single Edged with Fuller & Sawback
Overall length: 15”
Crossguard: 1 1/2”
Scabbard length: 10 3/4"
- This product is available for international shipping.
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