Bayonets

Trex · 04-06-08, 09:22 AM

Bottom one is almost certainly for the Kar 98, the standard WW2 German bolt-action rifle. It was basically a shortened and otherwise-modified Gew 98 (their standard WW1 rifle) AND was adopted in 1935. The '98' refers to the year of adoption of the basic design, BTW.

Top one appears to be the SMLE bayonet as you say. However, there are some very similar ones, so dimensions and, in particular, markings would be useful. Look on the wood handle and at the base of the blade.

As to the frog on the top sheath, good question. It does not look like the typical British-issue one, but the pressures of WW1 may have led to non-standard ones being used. As well, the SMLE was used in many commonwealth nations until well after WW2; this could be a non-British SMLE frog. Alternatively, as suggested by Dronston, this could be from another type of bayonet entirely; it does resemble the KAR 98 frog. Again, markings would help if you can find any.

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04-06-08, 09:22 AM	#5
Trex Lieutenant Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 262 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Bottom one is almost certainly for the Kar 98, the standard WW2 German bolt-action rifle. It was basically a shortened and otherwise-modified Gew 98 (their standard WW1 rifle) AND was adopted in 1935. The '98' refers to the year of adoption of the basic design, BTW. Top one appears to be the SMLE bayonet as you say. However, there are some very similar ones, so dimensions and, in particular, markings would be useful. Look on the wood handle and at the base of the blade. As to the frog on the top sheath, good question. It does not look like the typical British-issue one, but the pressures of WW1 may have led to non-standard ones being used. As well, the SMLE was used in many commonwealth nations until well after WW2; this could be a non-British SMLE frog. Alternatively, as suggested by Dronston, this could be from another type of bayonet entirely; it does resemble the KAR 98 frog. Again, markings would help if you can find any.