Original German WWII 1939 dated 98k Bayonet by E. & F. Hörster with Scabbard & Frog - Matching Serial 9446 e

Original Item: Only One Available. In 1935 the German military introduced the K98k bolt action rifle or Karabiner 98 Kurz, as a replacement for the older GEW98 or Gewehr 98. A new, shorter bayonet was designed to go along with the shortened rifle. The K98 bayonet was officially named Seitengewehr 84/98 III or SG 84/98 III. The bayonet was designed as a close combat sidearm that could be placed on the tip of a K98.

The total length of the K98 bayonet was 15.2 inches, far shorter than the 20 inch long GEW98 bayonet. The blade was also straighter in shape and the hand guard was omitted. The K98 bayonet was carried in a leather frog, or Seitengewehrtragetasche, on the left side on the equipment belt in combination with the shovel and its carrier. The maker marks on k98 bayonets where stamped onto the top of the blade. On the reverse the batch number and suffix were stamped.

Model bayonet: Seitengewehr 84/98 III
Markings: 9446 / e, E.u.F.Hörster, and 39
Material: Blued steel
Grip material: Wood

Condition is very good with original bluing on blade, bakelite grips intact and a working locking button. The blade has the factory "sharpening", which did not really make the blade sharp: that was up to the soldier. We can however see a few dents on the edge, so it may have been used as is in service. There is some runner wear to the finish, and also a few spots of finish loss from contact with the runner, which is wavy spring steel. The pommel retains the finish well, showing fading to plum and some very light peppering. The scabbard finish is still in very good condition, showing a good amount of the original bluing on the front, while the reverse shows less, with some very shallow dents present.

The front of the scabbard and blade bear matching serial number 9446 / e. This is an early/pre WWII bayonet, so it pre-dates the three letter code system used later. The blade reverse ricasso and rear of the scabbard are maker marked with E.u.F.Hörster, indicating manufacture by the well-known maker E. & F. Hörster of Solingen, the legendary "City of Blades" in Eastern Germany. The rear of the scabbard has the date 1939 under the maker mark, while the spine of the blade is marked 39, indicating 1939 manufacture. There are also some early "Stick Eagle" pattern Waffenamt WaA253 markings on the pommel, correct for the 1937-40 period for many Solingen-based makers.

The scabbard is fitted in a very nice early war pattern leather frog, which has mostly intact stitching and looks to originally have had brass rivets around the scabbard sleeve, and steel at the belt loop. One of the sleeve rivets must have popped, and was replaced by a steel one. It still retains the original retaining strap with am aluminum stud, which is in great shape with intact stitching. The reverse has a faded maker marking and date, which we unfortunately cannot make out.

An original early war German WWII Matching 98k Bayonet and scabbard by a desirable maker in very good condition. Comes complete with frog and is ready to display or fit to your 98K rifle!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 10"
Blade Style: Single Edge w/ Fuller
Overall length: 15 1/4“
Crossguard: 1 1/2”
Scabbard Length: 10 1/2"