The German K98 bayonet is one of the most iconic edged weapons of the second World War, designed to fit the Mauser Karabiner service rifle, and carried by millions of German soldiers on every front.

This particular example is in lovely condition. The blade is unsharpened, retaining virtually all of its original bluing, and finishing to a fine sharp tip. It is maker-marked WKC (Weyersberg, Kirschaum & Cie.), one of Solingen’s most prolific edged-weapon manufacturer’s, with the date 38 stamped on the spine and the serial number 7512 on the reverse ricasso.

The dark bakelite grips are in excellent condition, and secured by two screw bolts. The hilt has a fully functional rifle retaining button, and a diamond chequered flash guard. There are multiple Waffenamt inspection stamps present: one above the flash-guard, two on the hilt, and one on the retaining button itself. All the metal fittings show the majority of its original bluing.

The scabbard is undented, retaining a strong portion of its original bluing. A Waffenamt stamp is also present on the lower scabbard ball. The reverse is marked 43 AGV, identifying the maker as (Berg & Co, Solingen), and the date 1943. The opposite side shows the serial number 8179. Interestingly, the throat is secured with a late-war aluminium rivet instead of the earlier steel screw – a wartime economy measure reflecting Germany’s shortages of steel in the later years.

The bayonet fits the scabbard perfectly, and overall this is a fine example of the famous K98 bayonet – combining early-war blade production by WKC with a later war scabbard by Borg & Co, and showing both the quality of manufacturer and the adaptations forced by wartime shortages.