Chris Boonzaier

Hi, no problemo, this needs all thoughts in the pot.

Nope, stampings are as clear as a bell, a definate "2" I think this is a mystery that would have been impossible to solve without the origin of the bayonet, the pre KS98 period, the Herero war and the specially raised 2. Feld Regt. Best Chris

Hi, I think later when stamping became F.R. was standard for Füsilier, but there was no 2nd Füsilir regiment. Going by Chris' Schutztruppe Bayonets, with one to the 2nd Feld Regt, the fact that this comes from South Africa.. I think it is a safe bet that it was locally stamped to the Feld Regiment. I dont think the KS98s made an appearance in DSWA until 1905-07 era, This is a sure fire hit for the Herero war. Best Chris

Please do, have it on Great War forum and WAF, am not on any others.

I am wondering if I should mark this and sell it as a good copy, loosing EUR100 on it... Or should I be curious and rip the back plate off, loosing EUR160 ? How bad should I make my day?

I am going to have to eat crow here.... Some folks mentioned the strange patina... and I just thought "screw them! " today... I figured I would prove this patina is not hiding a dark secret.... So I cleaned the silver.... and found out that the back plate seems to be copper!!!!

what a pity they added after the war :-(

A quick question... I will be editing the English Version so far next week... What would the best equiv of "Bursche" be? UK "Batman" ? Servant sounds wrong.... Thanks Chris

I am kicking around the idea of getting this... Can anyone figure out the breast pocket and backstrap? http://www.germanmilitaria.com/Imperial/photos/G006165.html Thanks Chris

Hi, Last scanned in Johannesburg post office... and between there and my address in Germany it got lost. So either in Joburg or Germany. Best Chris

This bayonet has been stolen somewhere between South Africa and Germany. Please note the number.... Best Chris

If you are are on any other forums, please pass the word.

Please note, the following KS98 sawback bayonet was stolen in the mail. If you see it for sale anywhere, please drop me a line. The number is KS2232 or KS 2232 and is as such instantly recognisable.

You dont say...... ;-) He must have felt cheated... everyone else getting a point helmet to impress the ladies... :-)

A fine find indeed... and a nice write up.... Am I blind or did you mention the German unit facing them... will take some time when i get home tonight to read at leisure...

I think he nailed it.... closer examonation of the photo shows that is probably right... Now... any idea for the first guy? And what he is doing in the USA?

Hmmmm.... are you sure they are German?

If I had one of those on my head... I would prefer it to be kept in the dark... I would feel pretty cheated... caught up in the crowd, off to the recruiting centre... wine, women along the way.... wanting a picklehaube.... then "Ere, you! Put this on yer 'ead!".... I would have run off and joined the Austrians,,,,,

I doubt it was awarded as a memorial medal, surely in that case they would have had something of better quality with a name? And would a recruiting centre have been able to keep tabs on who was sent where and who was killed? I think once you passedthrough the recruiting centre it was "Hasta la vista Bwana"... Maybe it was given to people who worked there when they had been there long enough and done enough paper pushing`? Best Chris

Hi, Although not a sawback on the Pic, it gave me a pointer as to the possibility of what the stampngs on my bayonet were. best Chris

Hi, Are you forgetting the "Feld Regiment" one on your site ? :-) I was puzzling as to why the stamp was on the sheath, and not on the crossguard as well. The "F" and "R" stamps used by the 1st company are a tad larger than those used by the Ersatz Company, and would actually have ben too large to fit on the cross guard. " The markings "2.F.R.E.4.179." on the hilt show this bayonet to have been issued to the 2.Feld-Regiment, 4. Ersatz-Kompagnie of the Schutztruppe of South West Africa, weapon number 179. The Schutztruppe were only temporarily formed into regimental units during the Herero Rebellion. It is the only known example of a South West African Schutztruppe bayonet with individual unit markings. The S98 bayonet was not commonly issued in South West Africa, only one has been noted in a modern collection with the usual Schutztruppe "KS" markings. It is notable that this one was for an Ersatz unit rather than a frontline formation. From records (in "Unter dem Kreuz des Südens" by S Schepp) it is known that another non-frontline unit, the Landespolizei, also had a small number of S98 bayonets in stock. This bayonet was made at Erfurt in 1900 (marked "W00") and has a sawback blade. Like all S98aA bayonets it has a one piece wooden grip and a leather scabbard." best Chris

It may be an old dead horse to flog but..... "Retired Marine Lt. Col. Thomas Richards says the timing is suspicious and hopes the Navy didn't take away the award because of Sanders' conviction. "If a person's legitimately a hero, then I don't think anything else in his life should affect that," Richards said." Taking my "Hero" bar..... this guy gave up the title "Hero".... he is no longer a Hero.... he is simply a Scumbag who once did a brave thing.

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But was it allowed on a 3rd Reich era bar?

Really strange to see it on a 1930s bar!!