WWI M1898 Bayonet

[wpheaton]

Hello Friends,

This is my first venture into WWI bayonets and I do not know what I really have so will appreciate all information from you. I believe this to be a WWI M1898 Mauser Bayonet but I am looking for confirmation or correction. One of my many questions is why this bayonet has a steel scabbard where all the others I have seen have leather with metal ends. The scabbard fits the blade perfectly so it seems to be made for it. I tried getting close up pictures of the markings I found but my camera is not very good at that. The serial numbers do not match, "1502 on blade and "---4" on scabbard. Blade marked "W, K, & C" Solingen. Guard marked "-2 R -" "R 200.". Pommel has small, indistinguishable marking that could be crown & RC. There is a small stamping just below rifle groove on the tang. There are small stampings on each edge of the ricasso. On one spine there is a "Crowned W" over "O5" plus something below that. Opposite spine has indistinguishable stamping. Blade has never been sharpened and the tip is great. No nicks in blade. Wood grips are good except for one with some damage. Please check the pictures out closely and give your opinions.

Thanks,

William

[Chopperman]

I'm not real knowledgeable when it comes to these but what you
have is a M1898 n/A bayonet. The crowned W / 05 is the acceptance
mark and the year it was made. (1905) . I'm guessing here but I think
that the 1502 on the blade is a regimental inventory number and the
numbers on the cross guard above that are the regimental ID numbers.

[Richie B]

This bayonet was originally issued with a leather scabbard. During WW1, all steel scabbards were produced in a number of different patterns. I believe that the leather scabbards were liable to damage in field conditions.

[wpheaton]

I'm not real knowledgeable when it comes to these but what you
have is a M1898 n/A bayonet. The crowned W / 05 is the acceptance
mark and the year it was made. (1905) . I'm guessing here but I think
that the 1502 on the blade is a regimental inventory number and the
numbers on the cross guard above that are the regimental ID numbers.

Thanks Chopperman, as I research I am finding out more. I am wondering if I should try to clean the bayonet to better see the markings or just leave it as is. Thanks.

I will be heading to the AMA Vintage Motorcycle weekend July 7-9 with my son. We will be riding our 1968 Triumph T120 Bonneville and our 1970 Triumph TR6 Tiger. I love this weekend especially that I have the old bikes to go on. I only live 5 miles from Mid Ohio Race Track.

My wife is from Hudson, WI.

William

[Chopperman]

Hi William,
I think if the bayonet was mine, I would probably try to very carefully clean it up.
It easy to get too carried away.

My old chopper started life as a 1968 Triumph TR6 Trophy.
Hudson is 42 miles straight south of me. My niece and her husband live in Hudson.

[AZPhil]

William,
Its hard to tell by the pic's but does this one have a one piece wooden grip and looks like it does not have a flash guard. Is that correct?

Semper Fi
Phil

[Chopperman]

Looks like 2 piece to me.

[Anderson]

I'd tend to leave it as it is, anything abrasive would make the pitting more obvious. A bayonet in this condition has a character of it's own. I see someone has used it as a hammer! That may well be period damage. The german police were notorious for using their bayonets as hammers to pin up notices. Perhaps some army nco did the same.

[wpheaton]

William,
Its hard to tell by the pic's but does this one have a one piece wooden grip and looks like it does not have a flash guard. Is that correct?

Semper Fi
Phil

Two piece wood grip and no flash guard. There is no sign there ever was a flash guard.

Thanks Phil!

William

[wpheaton]

I'd tend to leave it as it is, anything abrasive would make the pitting more obvious. A bayonet in this condition has a character of it's own. I see someone has used it as a hammer! That may well be period damage. The german police were notorious for using their bayonets as hammers to pin up notices. Perhaps some army nco did the same.

I wondered what all those small, round indentations might be from. Only in that one place. Pounding nails makes sense.

Thanks,

William