Original German WWI M1898/05 n/A Butcher Bayonet by Alexander Coppel with Scabbard, Frog and Troddel Knot - Dated 1915

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a good example of the M-1898/05 Bayonet (Seitengewehr), which was the most common German Bayonet of the First World War. It was intended for use on the standard issue service rifle of Imperial Germany: the Mauser-designed Gewehr 98 (GEW 98). It features a heavy 14.5-inch steel blade with distinct bulge toward the point, giving extra weight and power to the business end, known as a "butcher blade". This version is known as n/A (neuer Art = newer model). This second pattern lacks the first pattern's vestigial muzzle ring (or 'ears') and has a flashguard on the back of the grip.

This example has a very nice set of original grooved wood grips, with a few small chips and dents. The hilt and crossguard are solid, though they have some surface rusting due to age. The bayonet lock is fully functional. The blade ricasso is maker clearly marked:

ALEX. COPPEL
SOLINGEN

This denotes manufacture by Alexander Coppel & Co. located in the legendary "City of Blades", Solingen. This company manufactured bayonets for many years and up through WWII under the name Alcoso. Sadly, as the Coppel family was Jewish, they saw their company stolen from them and "Aryanized" during WWII by the NSDAP. For more information on this maker please see J Anthony Carter's excellent work GERMAN KNIFE AND SWORD MAKERS.

 

The blade is also dated on the blade's spine 15 under a proof mark of a Crown over W., for Kaiser Wilhelm II, and the year the bayonet was accepted. The blade is in very good condition, with a still bright finish and no edge chips. 

The steel scabbard is in good condition, though it does have some very heavy surface oxidation pitting. The frog button is still intact and only slightly unbent. The scabbard is held by a nice original brown leather frog (Seitengewehrtragetasche), which shows quite a bit of age. There are maker’s markings to the back but they’re very faint, and we can only make out the year, 1916.

The original troddel knot is still attached to the frog, and it shows material loss but is still solid overall. 

A fine example of what is becoming a difficult bayonet to find in such fine condition, never messed with, just the way we like to find them, ready to display.

Dimensions:
Blade length: 14 1/2”
Blade Style: Single Edged "Butcher" with Fuller
Overall length: 19 3/4”
Crossguard: 2 3/4”
Scabbard length: 15 1/4"