Very Good Condition* German WWI M1898/05 ‘Butcher Bayonet’ Earlier First Pattern Scabbard and Leather Frog. 11523:2. Bayonets

The Bayonet M1898/05 should succeed the M1898 long bayonet. It had a much stronger design but was still very long. In the beginning of the Great War it came with high ears and without flash guard. From 1915 the M1898 ‘New Pattern’ were missing the ‘ears’ and is characterised by the addition of a thin sheet of steel as muzzle fire protection on top of the grip. The original German First World War butcher blade bayonet was used with the Mauser Gewehr 98 (GEW 98) the standard issue service rifle of Imperial Germany. This example was manufactured by ‘ERFURT’ (the Royal Prussian Army works at Erfurt in Prussian Thuringia. The Royal Prussian armoury had been established at Erfurt in 1862. Their marking had the Royal Prussian crown above the word Erfurt) as stamped on one side of the ricasso. The top of the spine is stamped with a date code ‘W 15’ (1915) and inspection stamps. The wooden grips are held with two studs and are undamaged only showing minor signs of use related wear. The earlier first pattern steel scabbard throat carries the Royal Cypher of Kaiser Wilhelm II, King of Prussia above the date stamp '08 (1908) and a crowned acceptance stamp) is showing signs of age related wear *see images* the leather, stitching and metalwork are all intact. See ‘White & Watts’ The bayonet Book, pages 114 & 123, No 267. The price includes UK postage and packing. 11523:2.