Totally anonymous K98

[JamesT]

Good day Gentlemen

I wondered if anyone can tell me anything about this completely unmarked K98. There is no trace of bluing on the blade at all.

It is in very good and clean condition. The scabbard retains 95% of the bluing with just some light rust spotting. The blade has been lightly sharpened.

Many thanks for your help

[JamesT]

as you can see there are no marks on the pommel. There isn't one on the scabbard ball either

[JamesT]

some more of the blade. As you can see only very light sharpening marks and no evidence of bluing.

All comments welcome. Manufacturer?

Many thanks

[jh-ss44]

James, I believe you have a commercial made k-98 bayonet.
If I remember correctly, 5 diffrent companies made bayonets for civilian sales, mainly police type organizations. BUT, even those were ussually marked with the company name on the blades.
since they were not for the military , they were Not inspected & and stamped with the waffen amt. and not ser. # by the factory either.
it is possible it's later era , missed inspection some how. OR had the markings removed, post war (rarely done), but this Should be noticable.
If you wish to , remove the grips off to see any markings on the grips & on the metal under the grips. You might find some thing there that will help.
IF it was civilian sold, it would be a lot less common than military issue.
I don't know if the value would be any diffrent. I would assume so, but....
j.h.

[JamesT]

Thanks for your comments J.H.

I took off the grips and here are the marks I found

Both grips seem to be marked N9 Z3 in a curious umbrella like symbol. Best seen in the top picture, a KP

Any thoughts about the letters stamped on the metal?

Thanks

[David Fettes]

Well the grips are made by Karl Potthof, Presswerk, Solingen-Ohlings this is born out by the KP mark and N9 within the MPD (umbrella)
Z3 means that the grips are made from Phenolic resin with a layered cellulose filler possibly paper strips.

[AndyB]

There is WaA883 on the grips so the grips were accepted for Wehrmacht contract, but there is flashguard missing,the blade was refinished heavily, when not any other stamps on slot of pommel or anyplace it could be a commerzial piece.but not in original condition.best regards Andy

[JamesT]

Thanks everyone for your comments - so no definitive answer.

It is now on the estand.