Norwegian version

S98/05, also known as "Butcher Blade" because the blade resembles a Butcher knife, is a bayonet for the 1898 rifle, model 1905.

This was the most often used German bayonet during WWI. It is a lot shorter and far more robust than the S98 bayonet. The bayonet fits Gew98 and Kar98A and later Mausers with a long bayonet lug, and therefore does not require a muzzle ring. There are a number of pictures of the S98/05 bayonet mounted on Gew88, but the shorter bayonet lug does not make a stable mount and one must assume that such combinations are done by photographers behind the front, such a combination will not work in real life. 

German Soldier from the 133rd regiment in 1915, he is armed with Gew98 Mauser with S98/05 bayonet. Notice that his sleeve is to long, at this point there was a shortage of uniforms and uniforms that fit badly are a common sight. Later both uniforms and bayonets would be made in a number of "Ersatz" (replacement) variations.

Bavarian S98/05 bayonet with original brown leather frog and and steel scabbard. The first variations of the 98/05 bayonets had a leather scabbard and high ears, this is a later model with low ears.

Prussian S98/05 bayonet with sawback blade. Approximately 6% of the 98/05 bayonets were made with a saw like this one. These were issued to pioneer troops and NCOs so that every unit should have a saw available. This was intended as a tool, but British propaganda made a lot out of the Germans barbaric weapons, and there were stories of soldiers who were tortured to death or executed for having had such bayonets when taken prisoner. In the end the German army decided, in late 1917 to grind the saw off the bayonets and to issue wire saws instead as the fuss about these weapons, and the soldiers fear of having it in case they were captured, was too much of a strain.

German S98/05 that has had a sawback blade, but which has had the saw ground off in 1917/18. This particular one has been reused during WWII as it has been blued. These were then used by Luftwaffe, SS and the police.

Main page