International. A Mixed Lot of Bayonets

(Bajonette). A mixed lot of bayonets, including:

1. A well-preserved German Heer (Army) K98 combat bayonet, measuring 40 cm in total length when inserted into the scabbard. It features a 25 cm-long magnetic steel blade with a sharpened tip and lower edge. Retaining most of its original blueing, the blade has wide fullers running the majority of the length of the top edge of each side. Both the obverse and reverse of the ricasso are stamped with serial numbers and depot codes. The blade sits securely within a blued magnetic metal hilt, with a hollow insertion slot set into the pommel, itself retaining a functional push-button spring release. Two pieces of ribbed dark brown wood compose the handle grip, and are secured together with dual magnetic metal rivets. Partially-legible Waffenamt marks are visible on the reverse pommel. It is accompanied by its original scabbard, constructed of a blued magnetic metal shaft. A downward-pointing hook emanates from the side of the shaft directly below the throat for the inclusion of a frog, while a functional spring catch within the throat firmly holds the bayonet in place during storage, and is fastened in place with a single side rivet. The obverse of the shaft is stamped with a mis-matched serial number along the rim of the throat, while the analogous spot on the reverse bears a maker’s mark of “F. HERDER A. SN”, with a manufacture date of “1939”. Minor issues consistent with age and field use are evident, and include minor running marks to the blade and sporadic, shallow denting to the scabbard shaft. The bayonet remains in an extremely fine condition.

2. An Australian P1907 SMLE bayonet, measuring 58 cm in total length when inserted into the scabbard. It features a 43 cm-long magnetic steel blade with a sharpened tip and lower edge. Retaining the majority of its original blueing, the blade has wide fullers which run the majority of the length of each side. Stamped onto the reverse ricasso is a maker’s mark of “LITHGOW” for the famous Australian state arms factory, with a manufacture date of “1916”, while the obverse ricasso bears government inspection marks and factory codes. The blade sits securely within a blued magnetic metal hilt, with a crossguard stamped with a serial number and featuring a barrel hole. A hollow insertion slot is set into the pommel and has a functional push-button spring release, stamped with a rifle number of “50402” for its corresponding firearm. Two pieces of dark brown wood comprise the handle grip, and are secured in place with dual magnetic metal rivets. Carefully carved into the reverse of the handle is a mark of “AUSTRALIA”. The blade is accompanied by its matching Second World War re-issue scabbard, constructed of a boiled brown leather shaft. The shaft bears an embossed mark of “MANGROVITE 44”. Blackened magnetic metal fixtures are secured to both the tip and throat, with a stud emanating from the latter for the accommodation of a frog. Minor issues consistent with age and field use are evident, and include some running marks to the blade with corresponding dulling of the edges, in addition to slight material fatigue of the scabbard. A superb example of a First World War bayonet repurposed for Second World War use, it remains in a near extremely fine condition.

3. A Swedish Mauser bayonet, measuring 35 cm in total length when inserted into the scabbard. It features a 21 cm-long magnetic steel blade with a sharpened tip and lower edge. A narrow fuller runs the majority of the length of the mid-section of both sides of the blade. The ricasso is stamped on both the obverse and reverse with government acceptance marks and a serial number. The blade sits securely within a multi-piece blued magnetic steel hilt. The crossguard features a barrel hole, additional numerical code, and maker’s mark of the Eskilstuna Iron Company, and unit attribution. A pebbled handle culminates in a hollow insertion slot set into the pommel. The bayonet is accompanied by its original scabbard, constructed of a blued magnetic metal shaft. A flattened stud emanates from the side of the shaft just beneath the throat, indicating an early issue example. The throat bears an additional maker’s mark of “E.A.B.” for Erik Anton Berg, Eskilstuna. Minor issues consistent with age and field use are evident, and include some running marks to the blade and surface oxidation of the metal features. It remains in a near extremely fine condition.