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:

1

Bayonet type M1898

2

Bayonet type M1898/05

3

Bayonet type M1884/98

4

Bayonet types Ersatz & Dress

5

Bayonet types SG-42

 

 

Bayonet type M1898


 

The first knife bayonet.

Two new designs
First German rifle with magazine Rifle M1871/84

&

the first knife bayonet.

 

Bayonet M1871/84

The first knife bayonet was introduced for the first German rifle with a magazine Rifle M1871/84. The knife-bayonet, which had been adopted in January 1884, was named M71/84. This bayonet was one of the very first adopted knife bayonets in the world.

 

Bayonet M1871/84

Length of blade

253 mm

Length over all

385 mm

 

1905 a modification of the earlier S71/84 bayonet was introduced for Rifle M98 and named SG 84/98. This follows the old pattern without flash guard. The barrel ring was removed to enhance the precision capacity of the rifle. Instead the stock with the bayonet lug took the full impact in case of the bayonet was used against the enemy and the barrel was not affected.

 

SG 84/98

Bayonet SG 1884/98 first type

 

Bayonet SG 1884/98 2nd type with sawback.

 

In 1915 the new variation was produced which had minor modifications including the addition of a flash guard. The modified S84/98 bayonets were manufactured until 1917.

 

Bayonet SG 1884/98

In 1918 some further minor modifications were made like the addition of screw driver slots in the grip retaining screws and the saw-back had been removed.

The S84/98 bayonet continued in production during the Weimar Republic era.

 

 

Bayonet K98

Another modification of the S84/98 bayonet, designated as the K98 bayonet, began production in 1934.

 

Kar 98k with bayonet K98.

Mass production started in 1936. The K98 bayonet was a standard issue item and was accompanied by a bayonet frog to be worn on the reverse left side of the load carrying waist belt. The K98 bayonet remained the standard issue bayonet through-out the war with minor manufacturing variations.

 

Unmarked K98 bayonet exept for proofmarks.

 

K98 Bayonet

Length of blade

252 mm

Length over all

385 mm

 

1905 a modification of the earlier S71/84 bayonet was introduced for Rifle M98 and named SG 84/98. This follows the old pattern without flash guard. The barrel ring was removed to enhance the precision capacity of the rifle. Instead the stock with the bayonet lug took the full impact in case of the bayonet was used against the enemy and the barrel was not affected.

 

Swedish bayonet m/1939 and German K98

 

Frogs for unmounted personnel without retaining strap

Wehrmacht had two types of bayonet frogs:

- One for unmounted personnel without retaining strap
- One with the addition of a horizontal retaining strap for mounted personnel.

 

Regulations of 25th of January 1939 stated that the bayonet frog without the retaining strap was to be discontinued and replaced by the bayonet frog with the horizontal retaining strap for all personnel although.

Still it is evident from pictures and witnesses from veterans I have talked with that the changeover was never followed throughout.

 

 

Frog with the addition of a horizontal retaining strap for mounted personnel.

 


Interlude with long blade

This was an interlude with long blade called M1914

Bayonet M1914

Length of blade

295 mm

Length over all

430 mm

 


 

[Top of the page]

 

1

Bayonet type M1898

2

Bayonet type M1898/05

3

Bayonet type M1884/98

4

Bayonet types Ersatz & Dress

5

Bayonet types SG-42

 

References:

Robin Lumsden Edged Weapons of Hitler’s Germany
John Walther German bayonet, 1871-1945
George T. Wheeler Seitengewehr: History of the German bayonet 1919-1945
Fredrick J Stephens Fighting knives
SVEVAP 1976 Bayonets then and now.

 

BACK