Seitengewehr 84/98 bayonet vz.84/98 for Mauser 98k rifle
A bayonet used by the German forces during WW2. There are three basic models of this weapon:
1. model had wooden blades and a variant with a saw on the back of the blade was also produced (only for this model).
The 2nd model differs from the first model by the protective plate on the back of the handle
3rd model began production just before World War 2. It has a protective cover on the back of the handle just like the 2nd model, but differs with more economical bakelite blades.
The knife blade is wedge-shaped, double-edged downwards, transitioning into a distinctive central point. The bayonet was carried in an all-metal scabbard with a hook on a leather sling.
3.model
2.model
URL : https://www.valka.cz/DEU-bodak-SG-1884-98-na-pusku-Mauser-98k-t59342#213843
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Seitengewehr M84/98
1.model Seitengewehr M84/98 a.A. (alter Art - old type)
It was developed and tested between 1900 - 1905. It was created by modifying the bayonet vz.71/84, from which it took the scabbard and blade. In the construction of the hilt, design elements were taken from the long bayonet vz.98, which did not prove successful in practice and was to be replaced by the new design. However, this transition was by no means easy. It is repeatedly stated in the literature that this bayonet was gradually introduced into infantry armament after 1910. However, the accuracy of this figure is questionable to say the least, because, for example, in the specialist work by W. Gohlke: "Die blanken Waffen und die Schusswaffen" from 1912, the Model 84/98 bayonet is not mentioned at all.
2.model Seitengewehr M84/98 n.A. (neuer Art - new type)
Based on combat experience, changes were made to the bayonet design in 1915. The original leather scabbard with iron fittings was replaced by an all-metal one, and the handle was fitted with a protective plate on the back to protect the blades against scorching when fired, which occurred especially when firing the vz.98a carbine. There was also a simplification of the overall shape of the barrels and muzzle. This bayonet continued to be referred to as the M84/98 but as n.A. - new type, while the original bayonet came to be referred to as a.A. - old type.
A portion of the production (approximately 6%) was, like other German bayonets, made with a saw on the back of the blade. After 1917, the saw blades were officially removed from the bayonet blades, creating interesting collectible variants.
After the end of World War I, some of the vz.84/98 and vz.98/05 bayonets remained in the arsenal of the Weimar Republic and arms production was severely limited. Several interesting variants of these weapons were produced in this period. In 1932 (3.6.1932 and 10.11.1932) new regulations were issued regarding the modification of the older bayonets. All metal parts of the bayonets were blued, and slots for a screwdriver were filed into the nuts on the grip and the screws in the bolts. These older bayonets are easily recognizable by the Imperial period markings, usually a W under the crown (Kaiser Wilhelm).
Production of the M84/98 bayonets was resumed in 1927 by the Weiersberg Kirschbaum Co. Solingen in 1927. The weapons are marked W.u.K., are without serial numbers, and are marked with Reichswehr transfer marks. On the back of the blade they are stamped with a double number indicating the year of manufacture. Collector's records show years 27, 28 and 30.
After the Nazis came to power, armaments production resumed, but initially in a hidden form. For this reason, manufacturers used coded production marks and the years of production were also coded. In the period after 1933, codes consisting of the letter S/manufacturer's number were generally used. Many of these have not been deciphered to this day. In the case of bayonets in particular, the only code given is S/155 belonging to E.u.F. Horster and Co. Solingen. In addition, the use of fifteen unidentified codes is documented.
*S/27 Erma Waffenfabrik und Feinmechanische Werke B. Geipelt GmbH, Erfurt * S/42 Mauser-Werke AG, Oberndorf * S/147 J. P. Sauer & Sohn, Suhl/Thüringen * S/155 E&F Hörster, Solingen * S/172 Carl Eickhorn, Solingen * S/173 Elite Diamantwerk, Siegmar-Schonau bei Chemnitz * S/174 WKC, Solingen * S/175 Carl Eickhorn, Solingen oder Höller, Solingen * S/176 Weyersberg, Solingen * S/177 Friedrich Abr. Herder & Sohn Solingen * S/178 Gebr. Heller, Marienthal bei Schweina * S/184 Weyersberg Kirschbaum & Co, Solingen * S/185 Elite-Diamantwerk, Siegmar-Schönau bei Chemnitz * S/237 Berlin Lübecker Maschinenfabrik. Werk Lübeck (nicht gesichert) * S/238 Dürkopp-Werke, Bielefeld * S/239 Richard Herder, Solingen * S/240 Unbekannt, * S/241 Unbekannt, * S/242 Solinger Axt & Hauerfabrik, Solingen * S/243 Mauser-Werke AG, Berlin-Borsigwalde * S/244 Mundlos AG, Magdeburg * S/245 Julius Schmidt & Söhne, Riemberg/Breslau (under http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-Codes)
Bayonets made in 1934 are marked with the letter K on the back of the blade or by the maker's code, and 1935 products with the letter G. From 1936 onwards, the years on the weapons ceased to be coded. The coding of weapons with the S/xxx code was maintained until about 1937, with some inconsistency evident - some manufacturers use this code, others use the normal manufacturer's mark again. This changed in 1940, with W.K.C. by 1941. The outbreak of World War II forced the reintroduction of consistent coding in a completely new package. From 1939 onwards, a coding consisting mostly of three letters was gradually introduced. In the case of bayonets, these are marks:
ab- Mundlos AG, Magdeburg Nord agv-Berg&Co, Solingen-Ohligs asw-E&F Horster, Solingen bym-Gennosenschafts Machinenhaus der Buchsenmacher, Fernlach/Karnten, Austria can- August Wallmeyer, Eisenach (Thuringen) clc-Richard Abr. Herder, Solingen cof- Carl Eickhorn Waffenfabrik, Solingen cqh-Clemen und Jung, Solingen crs- Paul Weyersberg und Co, Solingen cul- Ernst Pack und Sohne, Solingen cvl- Weyersberg, Kirschbaum und Co. (aka WKC)Waffenfabrik GmbH, Solingen-Wald ddl- Remscheider Hobelmesserfabrik Josua Corts Sohn, Remscheid dot- Waffenwerk Brunn AG, Werk Brunn, Czechoslovakia ffc- Friedrich Abr. Herder und Sohn, Solingen fnj- Alexander Coppel GmbH (aka Alcoso), Solingen fze- F.W. Holler, Solingen i-Elite Diamantwerk, Siegmar-Schonau bei Chemnitz jwh- Manufacture Nationale (Staatliche Waffenfabrik) Chatellerault, France pyy- Berg & Co, Solingen sgx- E&F Horster, Solingen
The sheathed bayonets had their own numbers independent of the rifle number. This is probably mainly due to the fact that the bayonets were not made by the same company as the rifles. The numbering was carried out according to common practice in batches of 10,000. Individual batches were marked with letters of the alphabet.
3.model
From 1938 onwards, manufacturers began replacing the original wooden barrels with barrels made of black bakelite. Although the use of bakelite primers was not universally mandated - e.g., WKC did not produce wooden primers until 1943 - these guns are commonly referred to as the M84/98 Model 3. In addition to black grips, bakelite grips in brown were also produced, especially in the second half of the war. Another change was the gradual change of the finish from brynering to phosphating. Like other weapons, the bayonets bore the WaA acceptance mark and the number of the commissioner who accepted them. Particularly with Solingen products, we encounter the same commissioner's number on the products of different companies, which shows that the individual commissioners were not in charge of only one company, but of several companies. Before the beginning of the war all bayonet parts were marked with the WaA mark, later on the number of stamped marks gradually decreased. At the same time, the quality of the bayonets also decreased over time. In order to simplify production, rivets were even used instead of screws in some 1944 batches to fasten the bayonets.
In addition to the common bayonets described above, we can also encounter bayonets that do not fit into these schemes: - they are numbered differently. Their serial numbers are higher than 10 000 - they have blades marked with the full name of the manufacturer or its graphic symbol - do not have WaA acceptance marks - are otherwise distinguishable
There may be several reasons for this. The bayonets were often repaired and assembled, and may have been renumbered, or they may have been exported, which continued in part after the outbreak of World War II. These export bayonets were often seized and supplied for the use of the German army.
M84/98 bayonets were carried on a leather (or textile) sling together with a tassel. The army tassel had a base colour of green or light grey and the colour of the slide, stem and wreath could be used to determine exactly which unit the owner belonged to. During the war, however, the wearing of tassels was gradually abandoned, although there are photographs of soldiers in camouflage uniforms or even directly in combat wearing a tassel on their bayonet.
Production of the M84/98 bayonet ended for most manufacturers in late 1944, with the exception of four companies that still produced a few batches in 1945.
Based on an article by Jan Šmíd (Strelecká Revue) John Walter- The German Bayonet Mike Welser- Reichswehr and Wehrmacht Bayonets 1920-1945 supplemented with info from my archive
URL : https://www.valka.cz/DEU-bodak-SG-1884-98-na-pusku-Mauser-98k-t59342#222274
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Reklama
While wandering around the net I came across some nice photos of a vz.84/98 bayonet from 1915: the bayonet already has a protective plate to protect the blades, but it still differs (apart from the markings) from later products in other details. The screws on the handle do not have a screwdriver notch, it has a different grip shape, the pommel does not have the typical rectangular cutout, and the blade has a less pronounced point. These bayonets are rarely found anymore.
fotos are from aukro.cz
URL : https://www.valka.cz/DEU-bodak-SG-1884-98-na-pusku-Mauser-98k-t59342#224064
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For the sake of completeness I attach some photos of the 1st model SG84/98, which I found on the website www.histoire-collection.com
Gun still with original leather scabbard and old type of barrel....
URL : https://www.valka.cz/DEU-bodak-SG-1884-98-na-pusku-Mauser-98k-t59342#224637
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Before the end of World War II, these bayonets were produced without markings. The surface of these bayonets is usually already treated by phosphating.
URL : https://www.valka.cz/DEU-bodak-SG-1884-98-na-pusku-Mauser-98k-t59342#228670
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Reklama
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