Weapon - Bayonet, M1898/O5s sawback "Butcher" bayonet

Historical information

Used in WW1 by German soldiers, primarily pioneer troops and NCOs. Often had their teeth removed due to negative conotations associated with allied propaganda. Many German soldiers were advised not to use the sawback bayonet as they believed that if caught with it they could be summarily executed
Know as a saw back bayonet or a butchers knife

Physical description

Dark steel bayonet with substantial 37 cm (15 in) blade. Woodne grips are missing and steel on grop is significantly rusted. Saw back edge with 2 rows of 29 teeth, The quilion bends down toward the hanle Unlike many other bayontes this bayonet does not have a muzzel ring it instead has a long t shaped gove in the handle, Mauser avoided one since these altered the vibration harmonics of the barrel when fired, affecting accuracy. All the bayonets featured quillons that curved back towards the hilt. These were much less effective at catching the opposing blade than the forward-swept quillons used by some other nations. A small number of pioneers and certain non-commissioned officers of the German Army were issued a bayonet with a sawback edge, known as the S or m.S. ("mit Säge", with saw). Many such bayonets had their teeth ground down in response to negative Allied propaganda.
There is a heavily rusted, all steel scabbard

Inscriptions & markings

WAFFENFABRIK
MAUSER A.G
OBERNDORF a.N

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