***Grand Slam of K98 Bayonets 1934-1945***

Mr. Dynamite

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
4   0   0
Location
Northern Alberta
So here is a collection I just recently finished, my "Grand Slam" of Mauser K98 bayonets. :redface: It consists of all the combat bayonets made by the manufacturer "E.u.F Hörster" during their WW2 production years from 1934 through until April 16, 1945, when their factory in Solingen, Germany was captured by the 97th Infantry during the fighting in the Ruhr pocket.

I kind of got into collecting these unintentionally, I have been trying to find a rifle from all of the major countries in WW2 and was having trouble finding an original, untouched not refurbished K98 here in Canada. While running down possible leads I got a couple bayonets for the k98's I had already, and then started researching into 2 I ended up with that were by the same manufacturer. One thing lead to another, and soon I found myself collecting down through all of the different years and yearly types! Always nice to complete a collection that looks like it would never be finished, but now after finishing it I could have imported a couple excellent K98's from the States for what I put into this. :p I have really enjoyed it though, got acquainted with some great collectors and learned quite a bit from them!


a5.JPG


There is maybe one more that someone might say could be added to this line up if you really wanted to get technical, and some of these could sure stand to be replaced if a better condition one came up, but for now they are good place holders. A number of them are matching with their scabbard but the rest of them are not. Pretty hard to find some of these even in non-matching condition!



b.JPG


1) 1934 S/K Code
2) 1935 S/G Code
3) 1936 S Code




c.JPG


4) 1937 S Code
5) 1937 Name & City
6) 1938 Name




d.JPG


7) 1939 Name
8) 1940 Name
9) Second part of 1940 Three Letter Code starts - asw




e.JPG


10) 1941 asw
11) 1942 asw
12) 1943 asw



f.JPG


1944 saw many different variations:
13) 1944 asw with bolted grip
14) 1943/1944 asw dual date
15) 1944 asw riveted grips, blued finish



g1.JPG


Three of the rarest bayonets from WW2 right here:
16) 1944 asw "Gray Ghost" riveted, phosphate finish
Another variation for 1944, somewhere around October (in the gg letter block) the three letter code was switched to "sgx" and this code remains one of the most popular and sought after bayonet codes.
17) 1944 sgx riveted, phosphate finish
18) 1945 sgx riveted, phosphate finish


IMG_1616.JPG


The dates on the early ones


g2.JPG


Another look at the last late ones ;) - hard to find and pricey! So...anyone have any leads on another '45 they care to share? :cool: two '45 bayos down, not that many more to find!

Not many of these 45 sgx around as they were only made from sometime in January (when all '44 blanks were used up) until the middle of April. Very few are known to exist today.

IMG_1455.JPG
 
Last edited:
How long did it take you to put together?!?

Around 2.5 to 3 years, watching eBay (where I found many of them, the rest were through private sales) every single day, checking every single bayonet that was posted, not just the title but checking every picture as very few listings have accurate titles/descriptions, and messaging hundreds of sellers trying to track down every piece I needed. Many hours of research on the net, much of it trying to pinpoint where and how to find that last one, researching everything, even down to late war troop movements and trends in data of existing examples. It got pretty obsessive, but that is the part of collecting I enjoy and learn the most from.

In the end, the one that I encountered the least, was the last one I purchased, and so I guess you could say the hardest to find - was the '40 asw believe it or not!
 
Last edited:
You have done what I tried to achieve for years! Congratulations!!! Very jealous indeed! I was chasing these in Europe long before the Internet, would travel a few hundred kilometres in some instances to look at one. I sold off most of mine over the years except for what I have left, most I had at one time were 60 matching. Much more affordable back then, but the 34 and 45 always eluded me. Closest I found in cz was a very late bym 4. You have landed some real gems, thank you for showing us!!
 
Very nice collection, I fully understand how much time and effort you would have to put into making a collection that detailed (also part of the reason I like to stay as a generalist). Thank you for sharing it.
 
Thank you all!

Closest I found in cz was a very late bym 4.

The first "45 sgx" I found actually surfaced from the Czech Republic, but was in absolutely terrible relic condition and had been found in an attic over there. Heavily ground and beaten up pretty bad then left to rust, but it was a '45. I figure late ones such as you mention would have ended up there with the very last troops to surrender.
 
Very nice collection.
I admire your patience and persistence. I don't think I would have the patience to complete such a collection and invest all those years of searching.
 
IMG_1129.JPG


I have a 1917 by Horster, I cant imagine swinging one of those around on the end of a rifle, feels as big as a sword already!

Very nice :). I can't remember the year on mine, I think it is 1916 or 1917. It is very well made and sharp too and looks great on my Gewehr 98. The weight on the end of the Gewehr 98 when it is mounted makes it one hell of a pike.
 
Back
Top Bottom