I'm curious as to why the k98 bayonets didn't have the ring loops to go over the end of the barrel. I do realise the bayonet lug is quite strong but still wonder why they didn't use the ring like most other countries did.
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pzrwest,
Actually, there is no such thing as a "K98 bayonet" in German nomenclature. There are bayonets which fit onto a Karbiner 98 (K98) carbine however.
You are asking about the Seitengewehr 98 (S98), Kurtz Seitengewehr 98 (KS98), Seitengewehr 98/05 (S98/05) , etc bayonets. German ordnance determined that the muzzle ring on bayonets changed the harmonics of the barrel and made the carbine inaccurate. They solved this problem by removing the muzzle ring from German bayonets made after about 1900. The bayonet then only attached to the stock lug (which they lengthened to strengthen it) and did not interfere with the accuracy of the fired shot.
This is why the Germans tended to remove the muzzle rings from captured bayonets that they used as well. I hope this answers your question.
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