F&R Bayonets

FRISTER & ROSSMANN BAYONETS

PREFACE

MAUSER RIFLE

Mauser is a German arms manufacturer of a line of bolt-action rifles and semi-automatic pistols since the 1870s. Mauser designs were built for the German armed forces. Since the late 19th and early 20th centuries, military Mauser designs were also exported and licensed to a number of countries, as well as being a popular civilian firearm. In 1898 the German Army purchased a Mauser design, the Model 98, which incorporated improvements introduced in earlier models. The weapon officially entered German service as the Gew. 98 on April 5, 1898. This remains by far the most successful of the Mauser designs, helped by the onset of two world wars that demanded vast numbers of rifles.

Noticeable changes from previous Mauser rifle models included better ruptured case gas venting, better receiver metallurgy, and larger receiver ring dimensions for handling the pressures of the 8×57 cartridge. Mauser incorporated a third "safety" lug on the bolt body to protect the shooter in the event that one or more of the forward locking lugs failed. In 1905 the "spitzer" (pointed) round was introduced. This was in response to the French adoption of a pointed and boat-tail bullet, which offered better ballistic performance. The bullet diameter was increased from 0.318 inches (8.1 mm) to 0.323 inches (8.2 mm). This improved round copied the pointed tip design instead of the previous rounded nose profile. Pointed rounds give bullets a better ballistic coefficient, improving the effective range of the cartridge by decreasing aerodynamic drag.

Most existing Model 98s and many Model 88s were modified to take the new round, designated "8×57 IS". Modified Model 88s can be identified by an "S" on the receiver. Due to the possibility for overpressure from the undersize barrel, the spitzer round cannot safely be used in unmodified guns, particularly with Model 88 rifles.

Paul Mauser died on 29 May 1914, before the start of World War I that August. The war caused a spike in demand for the company's rifles. The 98 carbines were sold, as well as an experimental version with a twenty round, rather than five round, box magazine. The extended magazine was not well received, however.

A number of carbine versions known as Karabiner 98s were introduced and used in World War I. Some of these were even shorter than the later K.98k. These carbines were originally only distributed to cavalry troops, but later in the war to the special storm troop units as well.

GERMAN BAYONETS FOR THE MAUSER 98

Bayonet M1898

The bayonet types for the rifle Mauser M1898, are the most common German bayonets .Each federal state had its own preferences concerning equipment at the turn of the century. This was also the case with bayonets, called “Seitengewehr” in German, which means protection arm to be carried at the side of the body. The German bayonets were influenced by the French when they adopted bayonets. The basic rifle at the outbreak of the Great War 1914 was Mauser M1898. It was important for the Military to have equal length of rifle including bayonet as the main enemy , the French. The result was a long slender bayonet.

(see below)

FROM 1902

2 Patterns - Old and New

The first model had a grip made of one single piece of wood, which was wrapped around the tang. This is called a.A. which means in German “alter Art” (old type). At the turn of the century the Germans simplified and strengthened their bayonet grips.The new type is called n.A. (neu Art) and the grip was made of two halves from wood. The two-piece grips were introduced in 1902. These improvements were common for all the Military models of bayonets.

At the start of the war (1914), German military found out very soon that if a soldier plunged this type of bayonet through the ribs of his enemy, it would be stuck, because the enemy would bend forward and the blade would be stuck between the front and rear part of the ribs. The bayonet could not be removed, nor the rifle. This delay in close combat could be fatal.

Another point was that these long bayonets were weak and likely to break. For these reasons the M1898 bayonets were shortened. At the same time the complete rifle and bayonet together became handier in the trenches.

Bayonet M1898/05

The Bayonet M1898/05 should succeed the M1898 long bayonet. It had a much stronger design but was still very long. In the beginning of the Great War it came with high ears and without flash-guard.

FROM 1915 ONWARDS

Another change on the new Pattern (n.A.) was the addition of a thin sheet of steel as muzzle fire protection on top of the grip. Below you can see the flash guard along the back of the grips. This was introduced in 1915.

UNTIL 1917

Bayonet M1898/05 sawback

The Bayonet M1898/05 with a saw-back was used by pioneers and machine gunner crews among others. It was suitable for cutting brushes. The sawback was a favoured tool among German Military units. However when used as a bayonet plunged into an enemy it caused horrible injuries!

FROM 1917 ONWARDS

German sawback bayonets were cited in Allied propaganda as examples of German frightfulness (even though the British had used them in earlier years). There were indeed rumours amongst German soldiers that they would be executed if found with saw backed bayonets. Even gets a mention in "All Quiet on the Western Front" published in 1920. As early as 1915 there was concern about them - a letter was written expressing concern about their issue. This letter went all the way from a Bavarian Infantry Regiment to the Bavarian War Ministry but nothing was done.

In August 1917 an order was issued withdrawing sawbacks from front line service and replacing them with plain blades. However, they were still to be issued to rear area troops. Front line troops were equipped with folding saws as a replacement.

In January 1918 the Prussian War Ministry issued an order concerning the removal of saws from S98-05 and S84-98 bayonets as they were still serviceable with this modification.

by Richie (warrelics.eu)

The new productions of M1898/05 were made with smooth back and the addition of a thin sheet of steel as muzzle fire protection on top of the grip.

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J.A. Henckels

On 13 June 1731 Peter Henckels registered the "Zwilling" (German for "Twin") logo with the Cutlers’ Guild of Solingen. This makes Zwilling one of the oldest trademarks in the world. 40 years later, Peter's son Johann Abraham Henckels (1771-1850) was born, who would later re-name the company after himself. The Henckels logo has been in the current shape with a red background since 1969. J.A. Henckels Twin Brand Razors and Shears promotional postcard, ca. 1930-1945. J.A. Henckels opened the first trading outlet in 1818 in Berlin, opening a shop in New York in 1883 and followed a year later by Vienna. The company exhibited its products at the 1851 Great Exhibition at the Crystal Palace in Great Britain, and achieved an international recognition and an award medal. In 1909 Henckels set up its first subsidiary in the U.S., followed by Canada, The Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, Japan, Italy, France, Spain, China. In 2008, subsidiaries were set up in Great Britain and Brazil. J.A. Henckels was awarded the Grand Prix prize in Paris in 1900 and the Grand Prix of St. Louis in 1904. It was also awarded with the Prussian State Golden Medal. Henckels was also given a Royal warrant of appointment as purveyors of knives to the Imperial and Royal Court of Austria-Hungary.

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BAYONETS AFTER 1902

by Frister & Rossmann

The grip was made of two halves from wood. The two-piece grips were introduced in 1902.