A Completely untouched attic find WW1 German 98/05 “Butcher” sawback bayonet. This is a bit of a time-capsule piece that has never been cleaned, polished, or interfered with. Every metal surface shows an even coating of surface rust from long-term storage in damp conditions, but beneath that you can actually see it has had very little use. This one is for collectors that are not chasing condition, and enjoy untouched as-found pieces.

Blade:

The blade is the stand out feature here. Despite the exterior corrosion on the metal fittings and scabbard, the blade is surprisingly clean, showing that it has spent decades undisturbed inside the scabbard. The saw teeth remain sharp, and the blade forms a perfect sharp tip. There are also clear signs that someone has oiled the blade at some stage – the remnants of that oil have dried onto the surface. This would clean of easily if the next owner chooses to, but we never touch or clean any of our items. On the spine we have an inspection stamp but no date and no later acceptance stamp, indicating this one was never issued for active military service. The maker mark is the desirable Durkoppwerke AG (triangle logo) – far less common than big Solingen firms. The reverse ricasso shows a second maker impression that is extremely faint, with only partial letters visible. One plausible explanation is that the blade was produced and stamped by one firm, then sent to another location for assembly and final finishing where the secondary stamp was added – a known but less common practice.

Hilt & Grips:

The hilt, crossguard and flashguard all show the same even surface rust as the rest of the exterior metal-work, consistent with long term damp storage. The wooden grips are in superb condition, showing very little wear. The wooden grip plates are secured by the original two screw bolts, and the rifle retaining button is functional. On the top of the hilt we see the usual inspection stamp.

Scabbard:

The scabbard structure and shape is very good, although it’s clear to see from the photos it is covered in surface rust, that matches the metal-work of the handle. On the rear of the scabbard, there are two indentations – they don’t stand out and you have to look carefully to spot them. The throat shows no visible inspection stamps, with the scabbard throat screw being present. The blade fits the scabbard perfectly.

Frog:

This bayonet is fitted with a frog, though not the usual wider, standard 98/05 type pattern. Instead,  it’s a smaller variant that has moulded itself firmly around the scabbard over many decades. At this point, removing it without causing damage would be extremely difficult. The leather shows heavy age-related wear, but it remains intact and structurally sound.

Overall:

This is a completely untouched attic-find Durkoppwerke 98/05 sawback bayonet. The blade, hilt, scabbard and frog all show honest long-term storage age, rather than use, with even surface rust throughout and no modern cleaning. The whole piece has that genuine, unspoiled attic character.

Reference Note:

For collectors getting into German bayonets, the book, (The German Bayonet 1898/1945) by Christian Mery is an excellent starting-point book. It offers clear coloured photos, maker information and explanations of the main variants – a great reference for identifying and understanding the 98/05 and other German bayonets.

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