History

Bayonets are edged weapons that are attached to rifles by way of a bayonet lug for close combat purposes. Most Third Reich models can be considered specialised knives.

German bayonet models often carry the letter “S” in their name, which stands for Seitengewehr, a German term for bayonet. The name usually also consists of a number reflecting the rifle model to which the bayonet is supposed to be attached, and often a number that reflects the year of adoption into service.

Most German bayonets would come both in versions with or without a sawback blade. Sawback models had an “S” (for “Säge”) at the end of the designation. It was used as a tool to clear brush or to string wire.
However, since the First World War Allied propaganda depicted sawback blades as proof of German barbarism in battle, even though they themselves equipped sawbacked bayonets to special troops as tools. The propaganda worked so well that German troops would not take their sawback bayonets to the front line for fear of being killed on the spot when captured with one. Because of this blades often had their sawbacks ground away retrospectively.

Many bayonets used by the Nazi regime were First World War or even pre-war weapons, often refurbished and/or slightly altered to fit a new rifle or purpose.
During the war it was also common for captured foreign bayonets to be re-issued by the Wehrmacht. Some bayonet factories in occupied countries continued to produce their own bayonet models for the Wehrmacht, for example a Czech company producing the Vz. 24.
Many of the captured bayonets were hot blued or chemically blackened.

Among the most used bayonet models are the KS 98, the S 98/05, the S 84/98, the Czech Vz. 24, and the Polish Wz. 22, Wz. 24, Wz. 27, and Wz. 39. These will all fit the most common German rifles, the Gew 98, the Kar 98, the G 29/40, the G 33/40, the G 98/40, the G 40 k, the G 24 t, the G 41 M, the G 41 W, the G 41 MKb. 42 (H), and the G 41 MKb. 42 (W).

Weight, size, and even parts and workmanship of a bayonet may vary due to minor manufacturing differences. Due to reworking and/or altering different versions of models will be available.

The S 98/05 model was intended as a tool bayonet, hence it was initially manufactured with a sawback. However, it could also be used as a weapon as it was designed to be light but very sturdy at the same time.

The blade is 370mm long and, unusually, has a swelled point. This model was not manufactured after 1918, but refurbished and re-issued in large numbers.

Early versions marked aA. (“ältere Art”, older version) came in black leather scabbards with bright steel throats and drags. Later versions marked nA. (“neuere Art”, newer version) came in blued or painted steel scabbards.

This model was gradually replaced with the S 84/98 during the Third Reich, which became the standard service bayonet for the Wehrmacht and all other armed forces.