The bayonet types for the rifle Mauser M1898, which are presented here are only the most common and main groups that the German bayonets can be divided into.

I have chosen to divide the bayonets into four main groups:

The first knife bayonet was introduced for the first German rifle with a magazine Rifle M1871/84. The knife-bayonet, which had been adopted in January 1884, was named M71/84. This bayonet was one of the very first adopted knife bayonets in the world.

Bayonet M1871/84

Length of blade

253 mm

Length over all

385 mm

1905 a modification of the earlier S71/84 bayonet was introduced for Rifle M98 and named SG 84/98. This follows the old pattern without flash guard. The barrel ring was removed to enhance the precision capacity of the rifle. Instead the stock with the bayonet lug took the full impact in case of the bayonet was used against the enemy and the barrel was not affected.

In 1915 the new variation was produced which had minor modifications including the addition of a flash guard. The modified S84/98 bayonets were manufactured until 1917.

In 1918 some further minor modifications were made like the addition of screw driver slots in the grip retaining screws and the saw-back had been removed.

Bayonet K98

Another modification of the S84/98 bayonet, designated as the K98 bayonet, began production in 1934.

Mass production started in 1936. The K98 bayonet was a standard issue item and was accompanied by a bayonet frog to be worn on the reverse left side of the load carrying waist belt. The K98 bayonet remained the standard issue bayonet through-out the war with minor manufacturing variations.

K98 Bayonet

Length of blade

252 mm

Length over all

385 mm

1905 a modification of the earlier S71/84 bayonet was introduced for Rifle M98 and named SG 84/98. This follows the old pattern without flash guard. The barrel ring was removed to enhance the precision capacity of the rifle. Instead the stock with the bayonet lug took the full impact in case of the bayonet was used against the enemy and the barrel was not affected.

Wehrmacht had two types of bayonet frogs:

- One for unmounted personnel without retaining strap
- One with the addition of a horizontal retaining strap for mounted personnel.

Regulations of 25^th of January 1939 stated that the bayonet frog without the retaining strap was to be discontinued and replaced by the bayonet frog with the horizontal retaining strap for all personnel although.

Still it is evident from pictures and witnesses from veterans I have talked with that the changeover was never followed throughout.

Bayonet M1914

Length of blade

295 mm

Length over all

430 mm

In mid-1944 the war-efforts were stretched to the utter most. The demand for steel was urgent. New weapons like G43 and MP44 (StG44) would not handle any bayonet. The carbine K98k was even issued without bayonet lug at the end of the war. The German high command had come to the conclusion (like Fairbairn & Sykes in UK) that the bayonet was outdated. The British army however, kept its traditions high and used the bayonet attack as an effective frightening assault.

It is estimated that 15 millions bayonets of this type were made between 1933 and 1945.

Bayonet type M1898

Bayonet type M1898/05

Bayonet type M1884/98

Bayonet types Ersatz & Dress

References:

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