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    The model 71-84 Mauser Bayonet as worn by Askaris troops in D.O.A. as they were equipped with the old Mauser 71 rifles .These phots are once again with the compliments of Old-Smithy.infohttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_11_2012/post-13922-0-39331900-1353934463.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_11_2012/post-13922-0-01174200-1353934499.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_11_2012/post-13922-0-44916300-1353934526.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_11_2012/post-13922-0-58085900-1353934557.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_11_2012/post-13922-0-78421800-1353934579.jpg

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    • 1 year later...

    Here is a thought to the wooden handeled Schutztruppen Bayonet in Post 10.

    These are not K.S.XXXX stamped and were made in 1913.

    Almost all seem to have been brought back to South Africa by South African troops and I have always assumed they were GSWA souveniers....

    New thought... why do we assume GSWA? Why not GEA? There were just as many South African troops there... most served in both theaters.

    GSWA must have been well stocked by 1913, is there any reason to think they would need a last rsupply in Bayonets just before the outbreal of the war?

    GEA, thats another story...

    http://www.kaiserscross.com/188001/476201.html

    See above for wartime resupply...

    3 800 "modern" Rifles... and presumably the bayonets to go with them?

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    Hello Chris.

    Just bearing in mind the really small number of German troops( no natives enlisted) in German South West and East Africa's larger troops with large native contingent though mostly equipped with 88 model rifles in need of update to more modern weapons.

    Bernhard H. Holst

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    Hi Chris,

    I have not seen any 1913 dated bayonets with colonial armory numbered markings on the crossguards.

    The theory is very probable that the blockade breakers delivered 1913 manufactured KS98 bayonets in GEA ,which were never stamped or numbered by the colonial armorer or quartermaster because of the pressure of war .

    As you know the GEA bayonets were marked "SCH.D.O.A..

    The KS98 bayonets are seen with leather chequered riveted handles and screwed bakelite or wood handles (I presume the two latter type have been re-handled.

    I have also read ,and I must find the reference, that a shipment of rifles and bayonets were sent from German South West Africa to GEA after 1913 as GEA was unable to get supplies from Germany .Therefore KS stamped rifles and bayonets could also have come from GEA .

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    The identifying factor is that they are all E&F Hörster 1913 wooden gripped kS98 bayonets. I think this batch were all for colonial issue. Has anyone seen one for home army use?


    Cheers
    Chris

    Edited by Chris Dale
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    The model 71-84 Mauser Bayonet as worn by Askaris troops in D.O.A. as they were equipped with the old Mauser 71 rifles .These phots are once again with the compliments of Old-Smithy.infoattachicon.gifGerman 71-84 DOA.JPGattachicon.gifGerman 71-84 DOA left hilt.JPGattachicon.gifGerman%2071-84%20DOA%20right%20crossguard.JPGattachicon.gifGerman 71-84 DOA scababrd marks.JPGattachicon.gifGerman%2071-84%20DOA%20spine.JPG

    This bayonet is very interesting as it has previous Saxon army markings. Note the spine marked King Albert of Saxony rather than Wilhelm II of Prussia as is usually seen on colonial bayonets...

    Cheers

    Chris

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    • 7 months later...

    Sorry, meant 2 pics.

     

    1907 would be late because by then they were getting the campaign award which he does not have....

     

    What interests me is how the bayonet replacement took place... for the KS98 bayonets the majority seem to have an abnahme of around 1912... simply from all the examples we see, I think they were a looooong way from replacing them al in 1906...

     

    There are of course a few with Abnahme Stamps for 06, but this does not mean that the bayonets were anywhere near africa at that date... they could well have been in a depot back in Germany...

     

    The few pics I have seen with KS98 all seem to be just before WW1.... unless we have any earlier ones with KS98?

     

    Best

    Chris

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    Chris the earliest KS 98 bayonets I have on my list are from 1904 and the last are 1912.

    It is true that the largest numbers appearing have 1912 abnahme stamps.

    I have observed distinctly three different tools used to stamp the weapon numbers on the crossgaurds

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    • 1 year later...

    Hi all

     

    New on the site, I'm from France and I collect sawback german bayonets.

    I've read with a great interest this very interesting thread.

    I have a very nice W04 kS98 Erfurt from GSWA, marked K.S.3175 on bayonet and scabbard, with the specific leather frog for africa with 8 rivets instead of six (marked K.A.1906)

     

     

    I also have a W06 98/02 Erfurt marked 2.F.R. . 12

    Are you sure that the F.R. marking is for "Field Regiment" in GSWA, during the herrero rebellion?

    I didn't know that GSWA got the 98/02 bayonet.

     

    Francois

     

    222.jpg

    2223.jpg

    3175.jpg

    erfurt.jpg

    W04.jpg

    1906KA.jpg

    Edited by Fross
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    Could you post a better photo showing the numbering on the scabbard guard as the glare on the posted photo makes it difficult to read. It seems the "7" is larger than the other numbers and was used from another punch set ( size I have seen on other KS98 bayonets)

    Please also post detail photos of the Feld Regiment bayonet .

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    Yes, you 're right.

    On the bayonet guard, the "7" is 4 mm high and the other numbers are 3 mm high.

    On the scabbard, they are all 3 mm high.

    I'll try to take a good picture of the 98/02.

     

    Francois

    Edited by Fross
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    Hi

    Here's a bad picture of the 98/02 guard.

    It's hard to read the marking because this bayonet was in a very bad shape and it has been restored and polished. The grips have been replaced by modern reproductions.

    With the help of a magnifier, I can read "2.F.R. blank .12"

    Unfortunately, no scabbard.

     

    Francois

     

     

    98-02.JPG

    P7200003.JPG

    Edited by Fross
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    What is the date on the spine?

    I believe 2. FR .12 would stand for Second  Feld Regiment weapon number 12 .

    This seems to be the consensus although Feldregiment is one word ! I have a S98nA  (made by V.C.S,. SUHL) bayonet  (two piece grip) marked 1902 whichhas the stamped lettering 1.F 299. As it comes from Namibia I have no doubt that it is a Feldregiment Nr 1 bayonet (weapon Nr 299)

    There were only 1 Feld Regiment and 2 Feld Regiment in German South West Africa (Namibia)

    1585045_150331133456_2015-03-19_23.22.59.jpg

    More photos.

    Scabbard is leather with metal fittings with non matching  number "4195" ..Only this number no "F". 

    1585045_150331133646_2015-03-19_23.23.31.jpg

    1585045_150331133520_2015-03-19_23.23.03.jpg

    1585045_150331133615_2015-03-19_23.23.23.jpg

    1585045_150331133721_2015-03-19_23.23.43.jpg

    1585045_150331133549_2015-03-19_23.23.16.jpg

    Chris posted a nice photo earlier in this thread of the S98 in wear by a Schutztruppe member.

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    • 1 year later...

    No pic, but it's W06.

     

    Francois

    On 31/05/2012 at 11:33, Chris Dale said:

    Tthe Schutztruppe were only temporarily formed into regimental units during the Herero Rebellion.

     

    No. The two field regiments were not part of the DSWA schutztruppe. 

    It was an expeditionary force sent by Wilhem II from Germany on May 1904 to help the schutztruppe which wasn't strong enough to fight the herrero rebels

     

    François

    Edited by Fross
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    The facts were that the Herero uprising caught the country by surprise and there were not enough troops in the country to control the uprising which had escalated into a war.Up to this stage the small Schutztruppe was made up of 4 Feldkompanies and small detachments in major towns .An expeditionary force and a Seebattalion were hurriedly sent from Germany early in 1904 followed by more troops ,and the Feldregiments were formed in German South West Afrika after midyear.They were certainly Schutztruppen and clothed and armed accordingly.Troop transports kept arriving for the balance of 1904 and well into 1905 ,so that the Schutztruppe  strength was about 14,500 in May 1905.

    This would explain why the 1904 marked KS bayonets are rather seen less often and those marked 1906 upwards are more readily seen.

     

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    • 1 month later...

    Hello everyone

    Does anyone have any definitive evidence as to when kS98 started to be issued to DSWA troops. I have heard it mentioned that it was around 1910 but without any proof. I am hoping that it might be possible to put a date on this from photographic evidence? The year stamp on the back of the kS98 blade is of no value whatsoever in this instance.

    Best wishes,
    Allan

    New Zealand

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