I came across this clamshell bayonet the other day. It has a full length 43 cm blade. After searching clamshell I was surprised how few of them were slotted like this example.
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It has matching number S.W.L. 342 -
Not sure if the frog is proper for this type bayonet. It is a nice imperial frog dated 1915 and unit markings. I have a bunch of other brown leather frogs that might work better.
kirbyComment
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Hi Kirby,
This is a very nice Eickhorn bayonet. It's particularly nice to find one with the clamshell intact, an uncut blade & the 3R grip eagle with larger aluminum rivets, really a super looking piece. I've found most of these prewar bayonets were super in their execution but early Eicks are particularly beautiful & well made. I know John Z. would agree with me
Joe Wotka would be able to tell you the specific times when the orders for removal of the clamshell & grinding of the blades took place but I've seen examples all over the place, some with clamshell but cut down blade, some with no clamshell & full length blade, some missing either the clamshell or full length blade but still with the Weimar star grip emblem. It does make for interesting collecting if one likes variations.
There may be some that disagree with me but I see roughly 1 slotted example to every 7 or 8 nonslotted examples but this is in a general sense & not with respect to clamshell/nonclamshell bayonets.
Many of the double oval Eicks I've seen over the years are either marked to a Polizeischule or not unit marked at all. Occasionally I'll see one with a Schutzpolizei marking like yours.
As far as the frog goes, I would think it to be a replacement based on the date of the frog & the presumed production date of the bayonet based on the maker mark ('32-'33) although there is no exact science to this & the original owner could have utilized an old frog during the period. We've all heard about the German virtue of frigality, right? I think it looks nice the way you've pictured it & were it mine, I'd leave it as is. I would add a nice, similarly conditioned knot though.Comment
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Kirby:
Great bayonet.
I am still searching for one of these. I have a shortened version with clamshell and non slotted.
I also have a long clamshell, unslotted with the 35-41 TM.
As Billy says, this is a great and hard to find version.
If you ever wish to move it, let me know.
JohnComment
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Nice M1929 clamshell. It is marked to a Schupo unit in the Administrative District of Wiesbaden, so I would look for a black frog instead of your WWI issue. The new bayonets were issued with proper frogs. I guess your frog is for a S98/05, so the clamshell is probably loose in it. the slotted ones were intended for the militarized riot police, so that is why there were fewer than the unslotted ones that were carried by the guys on the beat. Is the black leather scabbard marking matched to the bayo marking? I would look for a bayo knot too.Comment
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Thanks BillyG, JohnZ and JoeW
Some great information on the bayonet. The way the leather is worn on the scabbard it looks more brown than black but both the bayonet and scabbard have the same Schupo unit markings.
A clamshell has has been on my edged weapons want list so I am not planning on moving it any time soon.
All the best and thanks avian.
KirbyComment
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