A superb WW1 German 98/05 “Butcher” Bayonet, dated 1916 and made by V.C. Shilling, Suhl. This is a strong example with excellent grips, a bright blade, and a scabbard retaining an unusually high percentage of its original bluing. This piece sits well above average condition.

Blade:

The blade is clean and bright with no surface rust or staining. It retains a straight, crisp profile, forming into a proper point. The edge shows a very small sharpen, that you have to look closely to see. Maker-marked ” V.C. Shilling, Suhl” on the ricasso. The spine carries the imperial markings: the Crown, the “W” cipher for Kaiser Wilhelm II, the 16 date stamp for 1916, and beneath these is an inspection stamp. A genuinely excellent blade for a 98/05.

Hilt & Grips:

The grips are in superb condition, showing hardly any wear and with no cracks, chips, or damage. Hard to find better. The rifle release button works exactly as it should, with two inspection stamps sitting where expected on the pommel/hilt. The flash-guard is in perfect condition displaying a further inspection stamp.

Scabbard:

A genuinely impressive scabbard, retaining around 95% of its original bluing – very uncommon to see this amount of bluing on a 98/05. The scabbard is free of any knocks, dents, or damage, with  inspection stamps present on the lower ball, the throat, and on the lug. The blade fits the scabbard perfectly with a snap at the top.

Overall:

This is an extremely nice 98/05. Bright blade, outstanding grips, markings throughout, and a scabbard that I would rate 8.5/10. This bayonet will make a great display piece.

Historical Note:

Introduced during the First World War, the 98/05 “Butcher” bayonet was widely issued to German infantry as a robust alternative to the earlier long S98 pattern which proved too fragile for trench warfare. Its heavy butcher-knife profile made it far more practical for the brutal trench conditions of the period, where equipment needed to be tough, simple and reliable.