2nd Pattern, Model 1898/05 Bayonet

[Piper]

Hello,
I recently bought a 2nd Pattern, Model 1898/05 Bayonet. It is dated 1916 and has a Sawback. However, this one has a white metal Swastika inserted into the handle. this looks fairly well done and appears to have been there for a long time. The Bayonet turned up via a general Antique dealer from a private home. The bayonet was a good price, so I don't think the swastika has been added to increase it's value.
Has anyone come across anything similar, or have you seen photographs of similar bayonets being worn and used during the early Nazi period? ie, bayonets with a swastika on the handle.
Many thanks,
Stewart

[SCHUPO]

Stewart,

These S98/05 bayonets were not manufactured after 1919 but were refurbished and re-issued during the Weimar Republic and NS Zeit. Refurbishment usually involved blueing the bayonet overall or modifying the screwbolts or press stud with slots. I suspect that your bayonet was enhanced with a swastika by the veteran who brought it back or perhaps had a swastika put in it to sell it to occupation troops after the war.

[Piper]

Hello and thanks for your thoughts. Apart from the addition of the cross, there are no other signs of modification on the bayonet. I have seen some examples of the re issued bayonet and they all had re issue stamps etc on them, and as you say, they had been re blued. So I don't think this one falls into that group [although I would be keen to know if there were re issued bayonets which did not carry additional marks]
I had wondered if the cross had been added by a veteran. That is very possible. As I mentioned, it has been well done. The Cross is made from a single piece of metal and is cut out. this has been sunk into the grip. As yet, I do not know how it is attached. I have not seen any other 3rd Reich item with a similar size cross, so it looks like it has been made to fit this handle and is not just something already produced, which happened to fit, if you see what I mean. Because of this reason, I do not think it is as likely to have been something cobbled together to sell to Occupational troops, simply because there would have been lots of cap eagles etc. about which would have done a similar job, so there would be no real need to produce something new.
Either way, it is a nice bayonet, and as it was not expensive, I don't really mind when the cross was added. I am keen to explore all possibilities, though.
Thank you very much for your time,
Stewart