This example was made for Prussia, in 1917, by Mauser at their Oberndorf plant. It was reworked for use during the Weimar Period and is one of a small number of 98/05 bayonets to see service with the Luftwaffe during the Nazi Period.

The rework included bluing the metal and cutting slots in the screwbolts securing the grip scales and press stud.

The "P.W. 1078." marking is a Prussian police (Schutzpolizei) property marking believed associated with the Westfalen Police School.

The "R.L.M." marking is an abbreviation for Reichsluftfahrtministerium (State Air Ministry). This terminology was used during the pre-War years, since Germany was not permitted an Air Force (i.e., Luftwaffe) under the Treaty of Versailles. I suspect that the tiny "3" and "6" flanking the Imperial proofmark on the scabbard's ball finial indicates the year (1936) the bayonet was taken into Luftwaffe service.

Spine: Crown over "W" over "17" and proofmark

Crosspiece: "P.W. 2078."

Flashguard: "R.L.M."

Scabbard (ball finial): "3" proofmark "6"

The bayonet is an early example, made in 1935. The blade is marked using the letter/number code used from 1934-1937 to keep the maker’s identities secret. The scabbard was made in 1943 and bears the year of mfr. and Letter Code marking. The marking on this example was inadvertently double-struck.

The bayonet and scabbard were made by E. & F. Horster & Cie.,  Solingen, Katternberger Strasse 128, Germany.

A pre-war example that was captured and reworked in eastern Europe, probably Yugoslavia. The number code marking was partially obliterated during rework and new serial numbers were applied to the crosspiece and frog stud.

This example has serrated, brown bakelite plastic grips.  Bakelite grips are encountered about as often as are wood grips.

Before World War II, the Elite Diamant Werks (Elite Diamond Works) produced bicycles. The first Diamant bicycles were made in 1885.  During World War II, they also produced small motorcycles. After World War II, the Works fell into Russian hands and became part of the East German State.  The company continued producing bicycles and developed alloy bicycle components, including the first alloy bicycles.  Diamant bicycles won world road race championships in the late 1950s. Diamant was privatized in 1992, following German reunification, and, today, is the oldest bicycle factory still operating in Germany.

This example was made by E. & F. Horster & Cie.,  Solingen, Katternberger Strasse 128, Germany.

The scabbard on this example has had its original serial number struck through and a new number applied, indicating that it was reworked in wartime Germany, before falling into allied hands (and being reworked a second time).

Although the date is no longer visible on the blade, BCN data proves that the bayonet was made in 1940. This example has wood grips.   The scabbard was made in 1939.

The bayonet and scabbard were made by F.W. Holler, Solingen.  The bayonet was made in 1941 and the scabbard in 1943.

This example has serrated, reddish-brown plastic grips.

The blade and scabbard are marked with the Letter Code, as was customary from 1940-1945.

This example has wood grips. I found this example mounted on this Kar 98k ZF-41 sharpshooter's rifle brought back by a returning veteran.

According to M1884/98 III researcher Andrej 'Andy' Blazicek, the serial number suffix is an "N".  WKC used special Sutterlin font which is difficult to decipher.

The bayonet was made in 1944 by Carl Eickhorn Waffenfabrik AG, Solingen, Bruhler Strasse 53-59, Germany. The scabbard was made in 1943 by E. Pack & Sohn.

This example has wood grips.

This example was made in 1944 by E. & F. Horster & Cie.,  Solingen, Katternberger Strasse 128, Germany.

Ricasso (right): "2424" over "dd"

Pommel: "WaA519"

Scabbard: "44 ASW" and "2424" over "dd" and illegible waffenamt on ball tip.

Three different rod bayonets were produced. The first type is believed to be a shortened French M1936 bayonet. The second was a German-made copy of the shortened French M1936 bayonet. This example is of the third type, which is slightly shorter than the first two types and lacks the knurled grip section.

There should be a metal cap to close the tube end. It is missing on this example. No scabbard was issued. When not in use, the bayonet was reversed to stow between the bipod mount and forestock.

The markings are tiny. The picture at left was taken through a 20x stereo microscope.

This example was originally made in 1926 by Ceskoslovenska zbrojovka, a.s., Brno (roughly, Czechoslovakian Arms Factory, Inc.) as a VZ-24 bayonet and was subsequently modified under German occupation for issue to German forces.

This example exhibits many of the characteristics common to German-modified VZ-24 bayonets:

The muzzle ring is ground away, leaving protruding "ears";
Screw slots have been cut in the grip-securing nuts and in the nut securing the press-stud;
A serial number has been applied to the ricasso;
The rivet securing the scabbard throat has been deleted, the throat reversed and secured at the side by a screw; and,
Both bayonet and scabbard are blued.

The scabbard was made in 1927 by contractor Karel Schultz, in Kormorany, Moravia. Schultz is believed to have produced approximately 300,000 scabbards from 1924-1929.

Although these have no provision for mounting to a rifle, they are still classified as bayonets.

The tiger figural is the trademark of Lauterjung & Co., Tiger Stahlwaren-und Waffenfabrik, Solingen, Gasstrasse 29, Germany.  Lauterjung existed 1873-1972 and produced all kinds of knives, razors, scissors, & manicure equipment. They produced daggers 1935-1945, but were not known to have produced comparable material in earlier years.

This was a privately purchased item. Georg Rieder of Munich was the retailer who sold the piece.

All metal parts are nickel plated.  The scabbard is painted with high-gloss black lacquer. Leather washer is present on blade. 

Black leather belt frog (Carter #293) and Fire/Police troddel (knot). The troddel has a red striped ball, black strap with silver/red thread.

This example was made by Gebruder Klinge of Dresden in 1937.

Measures 8.875 in. (225mm) long by 2.00 in. (51mm) wide.    

Has 4 aluminum rivets and is of sewn construction. Hilt strap is missing.

Carter classified this frog as #311.

Measures 8.375 in. (213 mm) long by 1.625 in. (41 mm) wide. 

Carter classified this frog as #316.

According to Carter, the color of these frogs varied, with the earliest type being olive drab in color. As the Afrika Korps only existed for two years, these frogs are very scarce.  Fakes are far more common than legitimate examples. This frog came on the 1939 Elite-Diamant bayonet shown above.