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: 3909 / f, S / 174 and 1937
Material: Blued steel
Grip material: Wood

Condition is very good, with lots of original bluing on blade, nice wooden grips intact and a working locking button. The blade has the factory "sharpening", which left the blade quite dull, often with a 1mm wide edge. Sharpening for use was up to the soldier or arsenal, this example has been sharpened. There is some wear on the last inch or two from runner wear, but overall the blade is very nice, having been protected by the scabbard. The wooden grip scales are in good shape, with no chips, and just some light scratches. The bluing on the handle and scabbard is quite worn, showing that this bayonet saw long service, though probably not much use out of the scabbard.

The scabbard and blade bear matching serial numbers 5210 / c, and the pommel is Waffenamt marked. The blade ricasso is also marked with the Zahlencode (number code) that was used from 1925-1940 to obscure manufacturers, and often had a date suffix after them, though this does not. Code S / 174 indicates manufacture by the legendary maker Weyersberg, Kirschbaum & Cie., Stahwarenfabrik from the Wald area of Solingen, the legendary "City of Blades" in the mountains of Eastern Germany. The spine of the blade is dated 37, and the scabbard has a matching code marking on the reverse over 1937.

Bayonet and scabbard come complete with an original leather frog, which fits the scabbard nicely. The frog does show wear, and is somewhat stiff now, with a lot of the finish flaked off. It looks like it once had a securing loop, but that was removed. Most of the stitching is intact, and the aluminum rivets are solid as well.

An original excellent German Pre WWII Matching 98k Bayonet and scabbard with frog by a highly desirable maker. Ready to display or fit to your 98K rifle!