"Portugal Contract K98"

[wunderwafe]

Hello!
Is it civilian market bayonet? bayonet has no sign manufacturer
Regards
W.

[BrodieBartfast]

The fact that it has been serial numbered and WaffenAmt stamped would suggest it was a military piece.
The style of inspection marks identify it as being of prewar manufacture.

Regards, B.B.

[douglas2496]

I agree.

[Combat Boots]

I believe the one shown is a Portuguese Army Bayonet. Here is some information that applies.

Knife bayonet for use on the 8 mm. Mauser m/937 Short Rifle, produced for the Portuguese, in Germany, beginning in 1937. The m/937 is closely related to the Kar 98k. This bayonet was also used with Kar 98k rifles that Portugal obtained from Germany in 1941.
This bayonet was made in Germany, under contract for the Portuguese government. The bayonet is a German M1884/98 III, made on the same production line as those used by the Wehrmacht. This example bears German government acceptance marks (waffenamts), signifying that it met German government acceptance standards.

There were two Portuguese contracts, one in 1937 and another in 1941. This example is from the second contract, as is evidenced by the serial number on the crosspiece and the WaA 883 inspection stamps. First contract examples have the serial number on the pommel and bear WaA 253 inspection stamps.

The scabbard is an original Portuguese-contract scabbard.

Unlike bayonets produced for the German Army, these bayonets have no maker markings. The inspection teams represented by WaA 253 and WaA 883, covered many of the large Solingen blade makers, so it is not known which firm produced these bayonets. Bob

[Combat Boots]

Here is a similar example from my collection. Bob

[Combat Boots]

Forgot to add the waffenamts:

There is also one on the release button but was too worn to photograph. Bob

[Anderson]

I agree with Bob, because it has the WaA and serial number on the crossguard, this is a Portugal Army contract bayonet. Some of these bayonets were pulled out of the contract and used such as for the German Police, but in that case there would be no serial number stamp. This appears to be one that was actually delivered to Portugal.

[Frogprince]

The thread starter most likely from the 1937 contract, some of the later 1941 contract edged over into the circa 1942 time frame with a WaA519. Also having seen some postwar "conversions" to fake "SS" bayonets which ruined otherwise perfectly collectible bayonets with newly applied markings. Best Regards, Fred