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Consecutive Numbered clc44 Bayonets

Slash

Gray Ghost Moderator
Staff member
Here are a pair of clc44 bayonets by Richard Abr. Herder AG, Solingen. The bayonets are consecutively numbered in the H letter block. These are very late war production pieces numbered H3905 (left) and H3906. Alpha block H (1944) was the final production run for Richard Herder as they did not continue to make bayonets into 1945. The last serial number that has been recorded is H9900. Both are in excellent condition although the 3906 shows a bit of wear including a couple of slight dents to the flashguard. The 3905 is virtually mint. Both have the same thin blue finish. What at first appears to be a small chip to the red phenolic grip scale of the 3906 is actually an imperfection from the molding process. Both bayonets show heavy grinding and a lack of finishing work at the ricasso area and down the blade length. This is particularly noticeable on the 3905 which also has a deep grinding dip to the spine of the blade near the ricasso. I doubt this blade would have passed inspection during earlier production periods. The grind marks, lack of machine finishing, and maker/serial number application on these late Herder pieces has always struck me as very similar to the WKC (cvl) examples from the same period. Perhaps Andrej has information or further research including blade blank stampings from beneath the grip scales would show a connection? The brazed application of the scabbard finial balls is also very crude with a noticeable gap on the 3906 and split seam even showing to the 3905. Never the less both are stamped with a WaA519 acceptance. The same WaA stamping can also be found on the upper reverse pommel. Pictures below tell the story better than words:
 

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For some reason excellent condition and matching late war clc44 have always been somewhat difficult to locate. These pieces were not acquired together. They came from different sources, first the 3905 which was an SoS purchase and then the 3906 which came from an online auction probably four years later. Thanks for looking and I hope you have enjoyed the pics .....
 

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Thanks Slash - a beautiful set of twins!

Just curious how one comes across consecutive numbered specimens like this?
You mentioned they were acquired separately, but what are the odds of finding the 2nd, after already owning the first?!?
That must have been an exciting find - almost the Holy Grail. What was the scenario when you discovered it?

Kind of like searching and finding your Grandpa's long lost M1 Garand, based on the serial number he carried through boot camp, and off to war!
 
Just curious how one comes across consecutive numbered specimens like this?

Dumb luck! Keep in mind the both bayonets were probably captured in the same location, probably a depot or even the factory itself. I'd bet a lot of late war consecutive sets (rifles and bayonets) found their way into the states, together or separately.

Fantastic set!:thumbsup:
 
I just got H3910 !! It was an upgrade to a minty "G" block I had. It is stone mint, blade, everything. Like 99%. I agree, they must have been found at a depot all together, probably the last shipment.
 
Great and nice pieces like allways by Slash, the pieces are probably more real to find as they are both like depot condition, matching and probably bringbacks of GIs. Most possible a never used in combat more real a depot pieces. Anyway its great to see the same stamping and production marks on consecutive numbers, unfortunally no more info about the rohlings.
 
Here are some photos of mine, man is it rough machined. Bluing is 99%, it's incredible condition.
 

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This is probably not coincidence, should be asked where the pieces are found, or who served in the units who brought it back? Or area probably where it was found, unfortunally 70 years ago.so hard to determine it.
 
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Thanks Slash - a beautiful set of twins!

Just curious how one comes across consecutive numbered specimens like this?
You mentioned they were acquired separately, but what are the odds of finding the 2nd, after already owning the first?!?
That must have been an exciting find - almost the Holy Grail. What was the scenario when you discovered it?

Kind of like searching and finding your Grandpa's long lost M1 Garand, based on the serial number he carried through boot camp, and off to war!


As RyanE noted it never hurts to be lucky, but it also helps to stay on top of as much information as you can. Starting about 15 years ago I began keeping data bases for all of the 1944 S84/98 bayonet makers. It started with just the asw and sgx rivet grips; so production data for E & F Hörster beginning in roughly late September of 1944. It evolved into data bases for each of the 1944 makers with serial numbers for October - December production extrapolated from the total output for the entire calendar year. As an example, for Carl Eickhorn (cof) I have only collected the data for those pieces in the letter blocks S to Y. Over the years thousands of serial numbers have been collected. These numbers obviously contain the serial numbers for the bayonets in my collection. So in answer to your question, (finally, sorry) I "found" the 3906 while inputing data. Keying the numbers in and "hey, that's right next to one I already have!" And you are correct, it was a pretty exciting moment. Then, I just had to make sure that I won the auction!

Thanks to all for the comments and kind words .....
 
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