Item Description
Original Item. Only One Available. This is a very nice example of the rare Kurzes Seitengewehr (Short Sidearm) M1898 Dress Bayonet which has had the blade cutdown into a bowie-style to be used as a fighting knife, with the scabbard being similarly cut down. This was done almost-professionally, with the blade looking as if it left the factory this way, with only a bit of the nickel-plating being absent.
Intended for use on the Mauser GEW 98 rifle, the bayonet design is based on the earlier M1871/84 bayonet with a 10 inch blade, and the first model of these were converted from those bayonets. This example was purpose made in this size, and was not converted. The sawback version of these are very rare, and seldom seen. For more information on the variations of this type, please see Watts & White, The Bayonet Book, Pages 120-122.
This example has a very nice set of original checkered bakelite grips, held in place by three steel rivets. We usually see these with leather grips, but WWI was during the time when Bakelite was first being popularized, so it was also sometimes used. The bird's head pommel is in good shape, with a lovely oxidized patina, and the bayonet lock is fully functional. It does not look like this bayonet was ever nickel plated, so it may have been issued "in the white".
The blade is marked on the ricasso with the double trademark "King's Helmet" (Ritter-helm) alongside a "Kings's Head" (königskopf) logo of legendary German maker Weyersberg Kirschbaum & Cie of Solingen. This trademark is used on privately purchased blades and walking out bayonets in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and is absolutely correct for this sword. This company is a famous manufacturer of military swords and cutlery in Solingen, Germany - a city famous since the middle ages for its metal-working and craftsmanship in sword making.
The scabbard has lost some of its paint towards the bottom and is embedded in the frog, having been done when the bayonet was cut down. The frog is not marked or dated but it’s been with the bayonet forever, and the leather of the securing strap is heavily cracked, about ready to fall off.
This is a very interesting example of the very rare dress Short Model 1898 Bayonet of WWI, cut down to a bowie for use as a fighting knife, with the scabbard cut down and integrated into a frog. Comes ready for further use and display.
Dimensions:
Blade length: 6 1/8”
Blade Style: Bowie
Overall length: 11 1/8”
Crossguard: 2 3/8”
Scabbard length: 6 1/2" with frog
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