Bayonet / Trench Knife - Sawtooth - WKC - And that's all I know!!!

[TobyR]

Hi Everybody,

I picked this up recently. Bayonets are not my thing, so I could really do with some help on this. In short, what is it? It's marked for WKC (spelled out in full). So, I'm guessing it's pre-Third Reich. Am I right? What about the other marks? Proofmark? Serial Number? And the mark on the other side of the blade from the maker's mark?

I haven't been able to find this in any of my books. It measures 310mm overall and the blade measures 190mm.

Please help.

All the best,
Toby.

[TobyR]

And the hilt:

[TobyR]

And the maker's mark:

[TobyR]

And the mark on the reverse of the maker's mark:

[TobyR]

And the proofmark (I think!):

[TobyR]

And finally, the serial number:


Thanks for looking.

[AndyB]

upgrade

hello, it looks like upgrade from a older contract bayo - maybe a M1909 argentinian, or M1908 brazil or other bayo, that was upgraded as a combat knife, by replace of grips, adding of new crossguard without barrelring, with shortening of the blade and adding of sawback on spine of blade. The marking on opposite of WKC is maybe the firm who made this rework.Under this looks like remains of previous marking.best regards,Andy from BCN

[TobyR]

Andy,

Thank you for taking the time to reply. What sort of date do you think the bayonet was manufactured?

Also, you mention that it appears shortened. I had wondered about this previously but the fuller seems to flow out naturally, something which I imagine, had it been shortened would not be the case. Is this wrong? What do you think?

All the best,
Toby.

[AndyB]

knife

Hello, my opinion is that this bayo was made probably as M1909 argentine contract bayo,the pommel is the same,the guard were probably turned, and barrel ring removed, new grips attached. Later after replacing of M1909 in service with other model ?,was this reworked to a special knife. The logo could be important for destination of reworker, under this logo was probably the Model designation with serial numbers with letter prefix, that were matched to a rifle. For me is this a shortened blade, only few bayos have the fuller to tip.best regards,Andy from BCN

[Skipper Greenwade]

Andy,

Great to have you on this forum...I'm really weak on bayontes, especially ones other than Third Reich!

Best,
Skip

[AndyB]

Thanks

Hello Skip, Thanks for nice words. When i can, i help, but i am no specialist in this area of contract pre WW1 bayonets, my main interest is for german 98k, Mannlicher M95 and Czechoslovakian bayonets. But when any unknown interesting bayo appears, i can put this on our BCN forum. Best regards,Andy from BCN