Interesting frog

[Willi Z.]

This was given to me for inspection as it was described as an "old German frog", but I was rather doubtful. Anyone know what it is for, before I share my research?

[tranchant]

frog

hello willy
NO german! look tcheque for vz24!
best regards
patrick

[Frogprince]

Yugoslavia, very likely PW. FP

[Schlange]

Bayonet frog for Kingdom of Yugoslavia M24 bayonet / rifle.


Schlange

https://mojalbum.com/schlange88

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=916564

[Frogprince]

That's what the frogs were originally designed for which is the FN copy of the Czech rifle. That itself is a post WW I version of the German Model 98 rifles that were used internally and exported by Czechoslovakia in large quantities as the Vz.24. The difference with this one being that the pouch usually has a hole in it for the frog stud. That said, they were not common in the U.S. until the imports of ex-Yugoslavian surplus arms and militaria a number of years ago. FP

[Willi Z.]

Thanks gentlemen!

Other than the top strap not being present, here is what I found in Roy Williams' excellent book on German belt frogs. I used to chat with him at Kassel, but sadly he passed away unexpectedly last year. He helped me alot with older German bayonets.

[AndyB]

As already mentioned a prewar yugoslavian M1924 frog, used mainly with M1924 long bayonet. The second frog pictured on Williams book is not for french Lebel as there is round area , so used probably with normal S84/98.b.r.Andy

[Frogprince]

Thanks for the information and pictures from Roy Williams book. To be sure the Germans made extensive use of captured weapons giving the French bayonets (and rifles) their own identifiers. But there was also a logic behind it in that the availability of ammunition was a significant factor. The 1886 Lebel rimmed cartridges reported confining it to some garrisons, training depots, and at or near the end of the TR era the Volkssturm. FP