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K98 Bayonet - The Karabiner 98 Kurz (often abbreviated Kar98k, K98, or K98k) was a bolt-action rifle adopted as the standard infantry rifle in 1935 by the German Wehrmacht, and was one of the final developments in the long line of Mauser military rifles.

Most of these bayonets were designed for combat. However there were some versions that were created for showing at social functions. These were knwon as parade bayonets. Some of these specimens could be highly adorned with features such as stag handles.





The design of this bayonet consisted of bakelite handles attached to the tabg via the use of two rivets. The body was ribbed to provide a better grip. Some other styles of this bayonet included wooden smooth grips and all metal grips. The pommel was of "dove" head style. A button is found on one side of the pommel. Pressing it causes the lugnut locking mechanism to disengage, allowing the bayonet to be removed from the rifle.

The scabbard was of metal construction. Painted black. A hook was attached to the side so the leather frog can be secured to the bayonet. The purpose of the frog was to secure the bayonet to the belt . One side of the scabbard is stamped with the name of the company "Berg & Co". Just below that is the date of manufacturing, 1939. The same company name is located at the base of the blade.



The pommel is stamped with two waffen proofs. They consist of the small lines in the shape of an eagle. proof markings were found in the scabbard as well.

This page is a recognition and identification guide for German bayonets. Multiple detailed photos of a specific sample are provided. Descriptions point out specific points that should be noted.

One of the most commonly asked questions is "How much is my German bayonet worth?". A price guide is included here to address this question. The value of the Nazi bayonets is reviewed over a period of several years. A trend can be observed. The present worth of the police sword in the collector's market is illustrated.

This service is provided free of charge to the visitor/enthusiast courtesy of MilitaryItems.com, a company dedicated to the preservation of military history and to providing quality military antiques and collectibles to museums, institutions and the general public.

WANT TO LEARN MORE?
  1. FAQ's
  2. Dagger and sword anatomy
  3. Edge weapon RZM numbers
  4. German Dagger hangers
  5. Edge weapon maker markings
  6. Hilt markings
  7. German edge weapon materials
  8. Perspective view
  9. Purchasing a German bayonet




The bayonet has the name of the manufacturer stamped on one side (Berg & Co.). The other side has the number 9392.



The Germans were very precise in the control of manufacturing of all types of war related items. Bayonets were no exception. As it can be seen in the photo above and the' one below. A production number has been stamped at the base of the blade and the throat of the handle. The numbers are identical, meaning that these two pieces were matched from the point of manufacturing. This concept is known in the collector's world as "matching numbers".

As it can be imagined, keeping the two items together all during the war and after is a hard thing to do. This is why matching number bayonets are more desirable and harder to find.

Notice that the letter "e" is placed under the number of both items. This is a manufacturing marking.






Many German edge weapons are currently reproduced. It is becoming more difficult to be able to tell the fake ones from the real ones because the quality of the reproductions is improving. The collector must become familiarized with the construction style and materials employed in the manufacturing of this item. Attention to the details is critical in order to be able to determine the authenticity of the collectible.



If you have an interest is seeing other edge weapons of the Third Reich, you can do so by going to our WWII German daggers and Swords identification guide, Where we cover blades from the Heer (Army), Navy (Kriegsmarine), Air Force (Luftwaffe) and other organizations.





PRICING GUIDE INFORMATION

The value for WWII German daggers and other military antiques and collectibles is provided as a means to educate the collector community and individuals who have a general interest on the field. The following is an estimated value. Prices may vary in every state and every country. This service is provided courtesy of MilitaryItems.com . The source for military antiques and collectibles in the web.



Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Value $70.00 $80.00 $90.00 $100.00 $110.00 $120.00 $130.00 $140.00 $150.00 $160.00 $170.00 $185.00 $195.00
Availability Common Common Common Common Common Common Common Common Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium
Invest Grade B B B B A A A A A A A A A


  MARKET ANALYSIS
May 17th, 2017
Germany produced a few variations of bayonets during the war. The high quality construction of these blades have made them great collectibles. The item featured here is relatively hard to find. In general its appreciation has been good. It is likely this trend will continue for the next few years.


 
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