The bayonet types for the rifle Mauser M1898, which are presented here are only the most common and main groups that the German bayonets can be divided into.

I have chosen to divide the bayonets into four main groups:

Bayonet M1898

Each federal state had its own preferences concerning equipment at the turn of the century. This was also the case with bayonets, called “Seitengewehr” in German, which means protection arm to be carried at the side of the body.

The German bayonets were influenced by the French when they adopted bayonets. The basic rifle at the outbreak of the Great War 1914 was Mauser M1898. It was important for the Military to have equal length of rifle including bayonet as the main enemy – the French. The result was a long slender bayonet M1898.

Bayonet M1998 sawback

Length of blade

520 mm

Length over all

650 mm

Bayonets were often marked with units number on the cross-guard.

"105. R. 5. 183."
indicating the 105th Infantry Regiment, 5th Company, with "183" being the individual weapon number

2 Patterns - Old and New.

The first model had a grip made of one single piece of wood, which was wrapped around the tang.
This is called a.A. which means in German “alter Art” (old type).

At the turn of the century the Germans simplified and strengthened their bayonet grips.

The new type is called n.A. (neu Art) and the grip was made of two halves from wood.

The two-piece grips were introduced in 1902.

These improvements were common for all the Military models of bayonets.

Bayonet M1998 quillback

Length of blade

525 mm

Length over all

660 mm

Bayonet M1898 Short.

At the start of the war German military found out very soon that if a soldier plunged this type of bayonet through the ribs of his enemy, it would be stuck, because the enemy would bend forward and the blade would be stuck between the front and rear part of the ribs. The bayonet could not be removed, nor the rifle. This delay in close combat could be fatal.

 Another point was that these long bayonets were weak and likely to break. For these reasons the M1898 bayonets were shortened. At the same time the complete rifle and bayonet together became handier in the trenches.

Bayonet M1998 short

Length of blade ca

290 mm

Length over all ca

430 mm

References:

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