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Seitengewehr M.1898 lang (bayonet)


Fritz

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An very good example of a long Mauser bayonet - Seitengewehr M.1898 long, complete with brown leather frog and bayonet knot of 12. Kompanie, as purchased in London's Portobello Road antiques market from Brigadier Goode early 1968 - cost around 4 pounds in those days!

The bayonet and scabbard have different markings, but judging by the matching condition of both, have been together since about 1916, or even earlier.

The bayonet is marked on the rear of the hilt: 12.R.3.196 meaning - Grenadier-Rgt.12, 3.Komp., weapon no.196

The scabbard is marked to the rear: 102.R.10.175, meaning - Saxon I.R,102, 10.Komp., weapon no. 175

These two regiments were both in the Verdun area in early 1916, when probably bayonet and scabbard got mixed up for some reason.

The blade has only a crowned ERFURT mark, and the spine has a crowned W over 02 for 1902, beneath which is a crowned arsenal or Waffenmeister mark (in those days it was not Waffenmeister, but Büchsenmacher and Prüfer, who was the armourer and examiner).

The bayonet knot was missing its coloured parts, these being soft wool, had disappeared due to mothing over the years, there were just slight traces of the blue to the end sections, so I restored this many years ago, as I thought likely.

This example is the first pattern, and has wooden grips in one piece and still without the fireguard to the grips upper (Feuerschutzblech).

The SG 98 long hat the disadvantage that the long blade could relatively easily break or bend, and was also a hindrance in the narrow trenches. When a blade broke, this was then shortened, the scabbard also, such examples are still encountered. In this quality, now hard to obtain.

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great item! I have 2 full length and a cutdown sawback. All are Saxon and one is also a aA single grip as well :)

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