kar98 Bayonet manufacterer

[m40heer]

I Have a k98 bayonet, its from '43 but no manufacterer is visible.

Can someone tell where the was made?

Thanks already!

[U-96]

No other markings on the opposite of the numbers on the blade???

[m40heer]

On the blade only '43' this is the only other stam:

[Frogprince]

I would like to see the ‘43’ on the blade, but from what I have seen so far the bayonet seems to be a contradiction from what it was originally and what it is now. The bayonet itself looks like one from the 1937 Portuguese contract with the earlier style WaA253 Waffenamts, and an accountability number on the side of the pommel. Portuguese contract bayonets as a rule did not have maker’s names or dates. (P. Weyersberg/Solingen and one other maker whose name escapes me at the moment have been mentioned as the possible makers of these.)

But it also looks to me like it has been reworked/reblued and has had a set of recycled black Bakelite grips added in lieu of the original wooden ones. And unlike earlier issues, by 1943 the German were not reworking bayonets, so I’m not sure what the significance of the ‘43’ on the blade means. And while it could have been reworked by the Germans it’s also possible that it was reworked after the war. I hope this helps answer at least some of the original question. FP

[U-96]

Maybe these sites CAN (not will) help you out:

http://www.donet.com/~mconrad/bcncode.htm

http://www.old-smithy.info/bayonets/german_84_98.htm

[m40heer]

I will post a picture of the 43 tommorow, it is a german k98 bayo for sure. Its suites fine on my jp sauer '43.

[m40heer]

More details of bayo, it looks like german issue piece with original parts to me.









What do you guys think?

[U-96]

http://users.swing.be/sw017995/waffenamt.htm

[Frogprince]

The bayonet was manufactured by the Germans. No problem there. The ‘droop’ wing WaA253 Waffenamts were discontinued circa 1939 to be replaced by the straight wing Waffenamts (varied by makers). The WaA253 itself was phased out in 1940, although again a few exceptions have been noted, but not necessarily verified.

What the ‘43’ on the side of the blade and scabbard seems to be is another accountability/serial number. And the Eagle/243 (?) Waffenamt on the pommel release button seems to be from a bayonet by another maker with a seemingly different color bluing(?). And by 1943 the release buttons did not have Waffenamts. And as I mentioned earlier the Germans did arsenal overhaul bayonets, but not in the 1943 time frame, and they did not redate them.

That said, the bayonets for the Wehrmacht were issued independently from the rifles and were not serialed to match them. So different time period bayonets and rifles can be paired together - with the obvious caveat being that if one is portraying a German soldier’s equipment from (for example) the Afrika Korps. You could not use a 1944 dated bayonet because by 1944 they no longer were in North Africa. FP

[AndyB]

LIke FP correctly mentioned its a Portuguese Mo937a, that was restamped with new serials 1996 and 43 and was equiped with new grips and press button, that should be on Mundlos piece when WaA243 is there. the grips could have any inner stamps, when You could dissasembly it? best regards,Andy

[m40heer]

All together has this bayo more story than i thought!

Beneath the grips again lots of eagles

waA 258 on shaft:


WaA 885 on the grips:


They fitted new grips + releasebutton when it was issued i think then?

[AndyB]

As the first part of Portuguese contract M937 went all to Portugal, is this with high possibility a postwar rework, the origin wood grips were very agressive and many times are damaged, the grips are from 1941 period with WaA883 proofs, should be matched with numbers under flashguard,same like the lockstud. best regards,Andy