SG 98/02 Bayonet: New World Record Price

ww1czechlegion

ww1czechlegion

Well-known member
Hi Folks,

This just in, off of eBay. A new world record price realized for an SG 98/02 Bayonet: $1,613.00. :dontknow: :cry:

Hold on to your seats everyone! Unit marked and matched: "17.H. .23."

Here's the link: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130362579693&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Here's a stupid question: did the "H" stand for Husaren, "17th Husaren"? And if so, how/why were they issued this type of bayonet? I had thought that only the pioneers/engineers and possibly machinegun troops were issued this pattern bayonet.

After viewing the pics several days ago which show the marking on the crossguard, I could have sworn that it looked like someone messed with the "2" on the ".23." on the crossguard. Does anyone else notice the circle or oval that the "2" is stamped on in the crossguard closeup pic?

Any thoughts/comments by anyone on this piece, and the markings, and the price realized?

All the Best,

Alan Schaefer
 
Thanks for bringing this one up. I was flabbergasted at the price when I saw it. I'd be interested to learn what the added attraction is that would make someone pay that much for a, what I thought, was a pretty common bayonet.

The answer may be in the regimentals.

As far as the Hussars being issued with S98/05s, I'd expect they'd have been issued with something for their carbines. I have one picture of a Hussar in 'infantry kit', unfortunately his bayonet is not visible.

3217472684_4208aa54c5_b.jpg
 
Hey Alan
Yes H is for Hussar, the circle over the 2 on .23 is the end of a revit in the crossgaurd, in my opinion. Wow, that is a price.
Gus
 
I had a thought about the reason for haveing a pioneer Seitengewehr, not all members of a Husar Regement were horsemen, they had to have men to take care of the horses, and one need would be a tool to cut branches to fix an area to stable the horses in the field.
I have a pair of Stiefelhosen that are marked to a Husar Regt, and the size of the trousers would pretty much mean that he did not spend much time in a saddle.
Best
Gsu
 
You must have seen them last year, as I got them from George Anderson.
And the are XXL, but not just big around, he was tall too.
Gus
 
Hi Allan,
It's of course an S95/05aAS Transitional and that's not so common as we might think.
A brief history:
The S98/05 was first introduced in the Prussian army in 1905. It came in two versions, the plain backed: S98/05 or S98/05 o.S. (ohne Säge) and the other with 29 double teeth: S98/05 S. or S98/05 m.S. (mit Säge). They had leather scabbards an let's say a kinda half muzzlering (high ears). Approximately 6 % were fitted with the saw back...
At the beginning of the war, problems were discovered with the use of the S98/05 on Karabiner 98. The barrel came only halfway of the grips and they were damaged by the muzzle flash. Therefore it was decided in 1915 to fit a steel flash guard to the back of the hilt of the bayonet. With most (but not all) of these altered bayonets, the high ears were cut down to low ears.
The new bayonets were directly made with this new design and were called S98/05 nA and S98/05 nA S. (neuer Art) and also the all steel scabbard was introduced. The old models were called from then on S98/05 aA and S98/05 aA S. (alter Art).
Between the aA and the nA, a number of bayonets were produced which were not the one or the other and they are called Transitional patterns. It's possible to get a high eared aA with flashguard or a low eared nA without. The form of the ears is used to identify the base model.
In 1917 the production of the saw back version stopped and the ones in use were altered by removing the saw back. These altered models are called S98/05 aA S. abg. or S98/05 nA S. abg. (Säge abgeschliffen).
To get back to this bayonet, we can say it's a rare bird because it's a long eared transitional with flash guard, with a saw back and leather scabbard. The real bonus is of course is the matching Regt. number of the Husaren Regt. Nr. 17...
Also don't worry about the little circles you see, because it's just the two steel pins that are used to attach the cross guard to the blade. You can see this very often on bayonets...
Hope this little explanation helps you...

Adler
 
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