Tore’s Tuesday. The evolution of the S84/98 bayonet. From a little used bayonet type, to becoming one of the most famous bayonets in the world.
Today’s blog will mostly be about pre-WWI and WWI, but with a little foray into the decades after.
When Germany’s first repeating rifle was introduced in 1884, a short knife bayonet was introduced, often referred to as the first modern knife bayonet. (Yes, I do know of the Bowie bayonet…) The Gewehr 71/84 was based on Mausers single shot model 1871, but in 1884 it was modified with a tubular magazine, hence the designation 71/84. On the 71/84 one could use the long brass-handle SG1871, but in addition the short SG71/84 was made.
There are troops that need lighter weapons, like cavalry. Also troops that have a lot to carry and therefore need lighter weapons, such as artillery and MG crews. For them short carbines and shorter bayonets are needed.
The SG71/84 also fit the Gewehr 88, introduced in 1888, but when Germany adopted the Gewehr 98, Mausers legendary repeating rifle, with the extremely long S98 bayonet the need for shorter weapons for the aforementioned troops became apparent. In 1905 two changes were made. The shorter, but still substantial, S98/05 (“Butcher Blade”) bayonet was introduced. At the same time the SG71/84 bayonets were converted to fit the 98 type rifle and carbine.
The conversion was pretty radical, the muzzlering was ground off. Also the pommel with the old flat mortise slot was cut off and a new pommel with 1898 type mortise slot was fastened on the tang. New grips with a profile resembling the S98/05 grips were addded. This became the first pattern of the S84/98 bayonet.
The designation 84/98 is really a misnomer, it really does not fit into the German system of designations. Normally the model year of the rifle comes first, then the year of approval. The S98 is the bayonet approved in 1898 for the 1898 rifle. The S98/05 is a bayonet for the 1898 rifle, but the bayonet was approved in 1905 etc. The S84/98 bayonet on the other hand no longer fits the 1884 rifle, but fits the 1898 rifle, and the modified bayonet was approved in 1905. It really should have been designated S98/05, but they probably called it 84/98 as it would otherwise be confused with the other S98/05, the so called butcher blade, that was also approved in 1905. The German systematic approach must be somewhat overrated.
As WWI progressed, it became increasingly clear that long rifles and long bayonets, adopted to give the soldiers as much reach as possible, were far from practical in narrow trenches, and that shorter weapons were better suited.
In 1915, ten years after the introduction of the first pattern S84/98, production of purpose made S84/98 bayonets started. These differ in several ways from the first pattern. A flashguard was added, a steel plate on the top of the grips, to avoid damage to the grips from the muzzle blast when used on the short barreled Kar98A carbines. The fullers were rounded. The profile of the grips was simplified with straight grip-ends. Also the distinct hump on top of the grips of the 71/84 and first pattern 84/98 were dispensed with. The second pattern S84/98 also came in a steel scabbard instead of the leather scabbard that was vulnerable and could break. This was used through WWI by Sturmtruppen, cavalry, MG crews and artillerymen, and increasingly by infantry.
And, from here a departure from the WWI theme. The bayonet was used post-WWI by the Weimar Reichswehr. Then, after the Nazis took over, from 1934 onwards, a third pattern of this bayonet was introduced and made the standard German bayonet for all types of troops. There is no great difference between the second and third pattern, except that the third pattern was made with Bakelite grips as well as wooden grips, and it was blued. There are screw slots on the grip screws too, though this was really introduced in 1918, but is rarely seen on the earlier pattern. Hence this became one of the worlds most famous bayonets as it was used extensively on the Kar98K rifle. This is by far the pattern that was produced in the greatest numbers.