Re: Need help id'ing this bayonet

**wallyn66** · 03-28-2011, 08:18 PM

i also need help identifing a bayonet i have.
it has the handle of a 1871 long bayonet
but it is a short blade curved up. it is
german, probaly ww1 era. any help would be
great. im new at this! thanks wally.

**lithgow** · 03-28-2011, 11:56 PM

Hello-I have seen the photos on the Central Powers WW1 area-would appear to be a trench/fighting knife conversion but I have never seen a curved blade like that-not unusual to see old and/or damaged bayos made into knives but not like that!

**wallyn66** · 03-29-2011, 02:00 AM

it is not a conversion! i have seen the 1871 versions and they are
all straight. also, the blade is thick at the guard but tapers down to
the point. if you look through the gun barrel hole the tip aligns up
like a sight would. the collector i showed it to wanted it so bad his
hands were shaking! he called me twice a day until i told him not to!
thanks for all information you can give me on this. by the way, im a
vietnam vet.(1965-1967) wally.
)

**Walkwolf** · 03-29-2011, 04:15 AM

It is/was a German 1871 bayonet, but if it is not a conversion, then it is a
'factory second' that was fashioned into a trench knife. More than likely
it was made for use in the Great War from a broken bayonet.

These were not manufactured in this configuration for distribution
to the Armed Forces as a bayonet in the 1870's................

**wallyn66** · 03-29-2011, 02:35 PM

i do not think it was a broken bayonet. how do you explain
the curved blade? the 1871 bayonets were all straight blades.
it also has roman numerals on it. vi o r iv a. what would these mean?

**lithgow** · 03-29-2011, 08:26 PM

The curved blade is obviously a modification that means it's no longer a rifle bayo- the bayo blade as made was straight-numbers of this type of bayo were used by the Turks with various Mauser rifles-perhaps the original hilt was added to a blade somewhere in the Middle East/Asia Minor as the curved blade has the look of something from that part of the world-do you have a scabbard for it? Are the markings on the blade or the handle?

**wallyn66** · 03-30-2011, 03:09 PM

no scabbard. it does not look like it was modified in any way.
the balance is very good. it does have some markings.
the guard has these on it. VI OB IV A 73. THE BLADE HAS
SCTHOST. ALSO SOME NUMBERS ABOVE THE LETTERS
APPEARS TO BE N32NIT. THE MARKINGS ARE HARD TO SEE
I MAY HAVE MISSED SOME. ALSO ON THE BUTT OF THE BAYONET
THERE APPEARS TO BE A CROWN OVER A STRAIGHT LINE.
THIS IS BECOMING A MSYTERY! IT NEEDS SOLVING!
THANKS FOR ALL THE HELP,WALLY.

**lithgow** · 03-30-2011, 10:59 PM

Looking at the pictures on the other forum in close up I think the curved blade may have been made from a sabre/sword cut down (again probably due to damage to the complete blade)-soldiers as you know often end up with lots of time waiting for something to happen and will fill it by tinkering, making trench art or more combat useful stuff-the bloke who was interested in buying the knife had probably not seen an example like this-the numbers/letters on the crossbar at the hilt would be regimental unit or rack no.s from the original bayo's days as a service weapon.

**wallyn66** · 03-31-2011, 12:06 AM

well, anythings possible, but if you had this in your hand you
would probaly agree with me that it does not look to be modified.
if it was whoever did it would be a master craftsman i know there
is supposed to be a very rare bayonet but there are no pictures of
it. and no known examples that exist. do you know any thing about it?
thanks, wally

**Walkwolf** · 03-31-2011, 02:00 AM

It is very easy to heat up steel with a blow torch or wood fire
and alter the shape of the blade with a mallet. Then a good
sanding and polishing would make it look pretty............