GEM
Senior Member
Acquired this one about 10 years ago and am still puzzling over it. The blade is a WWI German S84/98 saw back. The tang is marked Waffenfabrik Mauser A.G. Oberndorf a.N. The mark is an off-center factory error and looks to have been re-struck. The blade spine is marked with a Crown W 17 (Prussian 1917) and a Crown over 11. There is no flash guard. Scabbard appears to be an unmarked German S84/98. It has been with this blade for some time as the saw back has cut into the throat but I suspect it was mated to the blade in the WWII era. The unusual muzzle ring fits the G98/98k series. The hilt design is reminiscent of but not identical to an M71/84, Czech VZ24 or a Polish M1924. Similar slanted design but dimensions and proportions are clearly different.
Is this some kind of export model or something assembled by the Czechs, Poles of others in the interwar period? Any ideas?
Is this some kind of export model or something assembled by the Czechs, Poles of others in the interwar period? Any ideas?