Documented bayonets of overseas forces.

[MichaelWC]

Hey all, this is still a work in progress. So bear with me. I got this idea from Paul. When he posted some documented bayonets in my colonial thread. I figured why not help out? I really do enjoy researching and studying the Imperial German overseas forces so much. A friend of mine allow me to document all of the bayonet's on his website. I still have about 40 more bayonets to add to the list. Mostly in the Asian forces and the Navy.

Bayonet unit markings
Southwest Africa:
KS=Kaiserliche Schutztruppe
K.S. (no) = DSWA
L.P. (no.) = Landespolizei DSWA
K.G.P. (no.)=Kaiserliches Gouvernement Polizei and seem to be used in 1905-07.
(no.) F.R.E. (no.) =Feld Regiment Ersatz
The Schutztruppe were only temporarily formed into regimental units during the Herero Rebellion.
(no.) F.R. (no.) =Feld-Regiment
The Schutztruppe were only temporarily formed into regimental units during the Herero Rebellion.
F.P. (no.) Fuhrpark-Kolonne of the Schutztruppe of South West Africa.
Kamerun:
Sch. K.(no.)= Kamerun
S.K. (no.)= Kamerun
P.T.K. (no.) = Polizei Trupp Kamerun
East Africa:
Sch. D.O.A (no.) = Deutsch Ost-Afrika
Togo:
P.T. (no.) = Polizei Togo (no Schutztruppe in Togo, just police)
Other Colonial markings:
F.K. = Feld Kompagnie (14 in DOA, 9 in DSWA, 12 in Kamerun)
F.P. (no.) Fuhrpark-Kolonne of the Schutztruppe of South West Africa.
Sch. A. (no.) = Schutzpolizei Anhalt-Scheinwerfer-Abteilung. there were 2 in DSWA.
Sch. PI. (no.)= Schießplatz training unit.
Seabataillon
I. S.B.R. (no.)= I. Seebataillon) was based at Kiel
Il. S.B.R. (no.)= II. Seebataillon) at Wilhelmshaven.
Ill. S.B.R. (no.)= III. Seebataillon) was formed in Tsingtao in China in 1898 and permanently based there, with small staff base at Cuxhaven.
O.M.D.(no.) = Ostasiatische Marine Detachmen. Marine Detachment of Marine Infantry troops based in Peking and Tientsin from 1909 to 1914.

Ostasiatische Expeditionscorps or Imperial East Asian expedition corp
(no.)O.R.(no.)= East Asian expedition corp

Hirschfänger 1871
1875 P. D. Luneschloss I.S.B.985

Seitengewehr 71/84
1888 Weyersburg 5.FP 2.123 (5. Fuhrpark-Kolonne of the Schutztruppe of South West Africa.
?/?/Sch. D.O.A. 240
1888 Alex Coppel Sch. D.O.A. 1162
1888 Weyersberg, Kirschbaum & Co of Sollingen Sch. D.O.A. 1116
1887 Weyersberg, Kirschbaum & Co of Sollingen Sch. D.O.A. 223 (Grenadier-Regiment Kaiser Wilhelm, König von Preußen Nr.101 (2. Königlich Sächsisches)
1887 Weyersberg Kirschbaum & Co in Solingen and Erfurt Sch.K.8559
1888 Weyersberg Kirschbaum & Co in Solingen Sch.K.3425
1887 Weyersberg Kirschbaum & Co in Solingen and Erfurt (no unit markings or weapon number)
1887/ND Weyersberg Kirschbaum & Co in Solingen/K.S.825

Pionier-Faschinenmesser 1871/1898 (Pfm71/98)

Bayonets 98/02 :
2F.R.11.123
2F.R.1.136
E.2.131
F.T.A.2.21

SG 98:
1899 Erfurt K.S.26
1899 Erfurt 2.F.R.E.4.179 2.Feld-Regiment, 4. Ersatz-Kompagnie of the Schutztruppe of South West Africa, weapon number 179.
1899 Erfurt O.E.27. sawback
1899 Erfurt 2.F.R.1.105 (2.Feld-Regiment, 1. Kompagnie of the Schutztruppe of South West Africa, weapon number 105.)
1990 Erfurt III.SB. 2.66 III. Seebataillon based at Tsingtao, 2nd company, weapon number 66.
1900 Erfurt O.E.2.241
1900 Erfurt SB 2.O.2.197.
1902 Erfurt 1.O.R.3.62. (JN)
1900 Erfurt 2.O.R.3.103
1901 Erfurt 2.O.R.9.49
1901 Erfurt S.F.4 Samoan Fita-Fita weapon number 4, as there were only 30 Fita-Fita at most at any one time.
1900 Erfurt 4.O.R.3.189
1900 Erfurt 4.O.R.4.118
1900 Erfurt 5.O.R.3.97 (JN)
1900 Erfurt 6.O.R.5.62. (JN)
1900 Erfurt 2.F.R.E.4.179 (2.Feld-Regiment, 4. Ersatz-Kompagnie of the Schutztruppe of South West Africa, weapon number 179.) Sawback
1900 Erfurt I.S.B.4102 (Carter)
1900 Erfurt III.S.B.4.33 (Carter)
ND Erfurt I.E.S.B.1593
1900 Erfurt I.E.S.B.1670 (Carter)
1901 Erfurt III.St.S.B.342
1901 Erfurt III.St.S.B.349 (Carter)
1908 Erfurt III.S.B.5.133.

ND Simson & Co I.S.B.651 (Carter)
ND Simson & Co I.S.B.3326
ND Simson & Co I.S.B.1129
ND Simson & Co I.S.B.2285
ND Simson & Co I.S.B.3220
ND Simson & Co I.S.B.3092
ND Simson & Co II.S.B.1226 (Carter)
ND Simson & Co II.S.B.325
ND Simson & Co II.S.B.2539 (JN)
1902 Simson & Co. II.S.B.2876 (JN)
ND Simson & Co II.S.B.3140
ND Simson & Co. III.S.B.3.141 (Carter)
1907 Simson & Co III.S.B.1.130 (Carter)
ND Simson & Co. O.M.D.1 124"1st Company of the East Asian Marine Detachment ("Ostasiatische Marine Detachment") based at Peking and Tientsin, weapon number 124
ND Simson & Co. II.E.S.B.1541 (Carter)
ND Simson & Co. I.S.B.3300
1906 Simson & Co III.S.B.2.209

KS 98:
19xx Erfurt SB K.S.10611 (date unknown)
19xx Erfurt SB K.S.11067 (LG) (date unknown)
19xc Erfurt SB KS 2232 (LG)
1904
1904 Erfurt SB K.S.87
1904 Erfurt SB K.S.825
1904 Erfurt SB K.S. 11471
1904 Erfurt SB S.K.7. 126 (LG)
1906
1906 Erfurt SB K.S.280
1906 Erfurt SB K.S.1613 (LG)
1906 Erfurt SB K.S.2037 (LG)
1907
1907 Erfurt SB Sch.D.O.A.208 (WG)
1907 Erfurt SB K.S.9794.S (WG) bayonet three rivets instead of crews.
1908
1908 Erfurt SB K.S.358
1909
1909 Erfurt SB K.S.11261 (LG)
1909 Erfurt SB K.S.427
1909 Erfurt SB Sch.D.O.A.492. (LG)
1909 Erfurt SB K.S.9882 (LG)
1909 Erfurt SB K.S.9879
1910
1910 Erfurt SB K.S. 1703. (LG) MWC
1910 Erfurt SB K.S.1066
1910 Erfurt SB K.S.1485
1910 Erfurt SB K.S.1516 (LG)
1910 Erfurt SB Sch. D.O.A. 404 (LG)
1910 Erfurt SB Sch.D.O.A.322
1910 Erfurt SB Sch.K.356
1910 Erfurt SB P.T. 44 (WG) P.T. is for
Polizeitruppe in Togo.
1910 Erfurt SB P.T. 16 (WG) - The wood grips are period theater replacements
1910 Erfurt SB K.S.1224 (LG)
1911
1911 Erfurt SB K.S.1602.(WG)
1911 Erfurt SB Sch.D.O.A.1250.
1911 Erfurt SB K.S.9245
1911 Erfurt SB K.S.10631 (LG)
1911 Erfurt SB Sch.K.1229
1911 Erfurt SB Sch.K.1245 (WG)
1911 Erfurt SB 1. F. 2. 64 Flieger-Bataillon nr.1, 2nd Kompanie, waffe nr.64
1912
1912 Erfurt SB ? (WG) In 1912 the german colonial office requested an estimate 250 trial bayonets for use by the shutztruppe.
1912 Erfurt SB K.S.2837 (LG) MWC
1912 Erfurt SB K.S.2115
1912 Erfurt SB K.S.2313
1912 Erfurt SB K.S.2749 (LG)
1912 Erfurt SB K.S.2556 (LG)
1912 Erfurt SB KS4916 (LG)
1912 Erfurt SB KS2698 (LG)
1912 Erfurt SB K.S.2183. (LG)
1912 Erfurt SB K.S.4892 (LG)
1912 Erfurt SB K.S.5278 (CG)
1912 Erfurt SB K.S.3462(LG)
1912 Erfurt SB K.S.1663 (LG)
1913
1913 Erfurt SB SCH.K.728 (WG)
1913 Erfurt SB O.M.D.M.C.A. 38 (LG) Ostasiatisches Marine Detachement, Maschinen-Gewehr-Abteilung, weapon no. 38.
1914
1914 Erfurt SB ? (CG)
1914 Erfurt SB ? (CG) RV craved into the grips.
1914 Erfurt SB K.S.1502 (WG)
1914 Erfurt SB Sch. D.O.A.1345 (CG)
1914 Erfurt SB P.T.K.691.A (WG) Polizeitruppe Kamerun
1914 Erfurt SB P.T.K. 415.A (WG) Polizeitruppe Kamerun
1914 Erfurt SB P.T.K. 377.A (WG) Polizeitruppe Kamerun

1913 E&F Hörster SB (no unit markings) (WG)
1913 E&F Hörster SB (no unit markings) (WG)
1913 E&F Hörster SB (no unit markings) (WG)
1913 E&F Hörster SB Sch.D.O.A.561 (WG)
1913 E&F Hörster SB Sch.D.O.A.947 (WG)
1913 E&F Hörster SB Sch.D.O.A.189 (WG)
1913 E&F Hörster SB Sch.K (WG)
1913 E&F Hörster SB P629 (WG) Cameroon or Togo Polizeitruppe
1913 E&F Hörster SB P299 (WG) Cameroon or Togo Polizeitruppe
1913 E&F Hörster SB P209 (WG) Cameroon or Togo Polizeitruppe
The frog with the bayonet is marked "KA06" for the colonial office ("Kolonialamt 1906") and both came together, reportedly from the auctioned collection of a British soldier who had served in Africa. The "P209" marking would then most likely refer to an African Polizeitruppe unit.

1914 Amberg SB K.S.1073. (LG)

1914 C.G.Haenel of Suhl SB SK.7.92 (WG)
Schutztruppe Kamerun 7. Feldkompagnie, weapon number 92
?/C.G.Haenel of Suhl SB ? (WG) MWC

Note: LG stands for "Leather Grips." WG stands for Wood Grips. CG stands for Composition Grips.
Leather grips cut into a chequered pattern were issued on some other bayonets (such as the Hf71 and kS98). It was found that the leather rotted quickly in the damp heat of the colonies (particularly Cameroon and East Africa) and the leather grips were replaced, sometimes locally, with wooden grips. By 1914 some replacement grips had also been made specifically for the colonies using a form of unvulcanised rubber known as "Kautschuk". These are often referred to as composition grips.

Seitengewehr 1898/1905 (S98/05)
1909 Erfurt III.SB. 5.51 5th (Mounted) Company of the III. Seebatallion based at Tsingtao, weapon number 51.
1910 Erfurt III SB 5.133" 5th (Mounted) Company of the III. Seebataillon based in Tsingtao, weapon number 133.
ND Simson & Co in Suhl II SB 3.113. 3rd Company of the II. Seebataillon, weapon number 113
1914 Erfurt II.S.B.4.236
ND Simson & Co II.SB
1915 Simson & Co I. S.B. 1145

Seitengewehr 1884/98 (S84/98)
1889 Weyersberg, Kirschbaum and Co of Sollingen P.T.K.92 Polizeitruppe Kamerun

British Pattern 03 Bayonet
1903 EFD 16. F.K. 44 (They may stand for the 16th Horse Transport Supply Column ("16.Fuhrpark-Kolonne") of the regular German army or the the 16th Schutztruppe Field Company ("16. Feldkompagnie") with the weapon number 44.)

JN= Jeff Noll
ND= no date
SB= sawback when not part of unit

 

[Slash]

Here are a few examples from my collection:

S 98
ND Simson & Co I.S.B.3326

kS 98
1906 Erfurt SB K.S.2037 (LG)
1909 Erfurt SB Sch. D.O.A. 492. (LG)
1910 Erfurt SB P.T. 16 (WG) - The wood grips are period theater replacements
1910 Erfurt SB K.S.1224 (LG)
1913 Erfurt SB O.M.D.M.C.A. 38 (LG) - Ostasiatische Marine Detachment Matrosen (Cuxhaven) Abteilung

Owed you these from some time back Michael. Will look as time permits as I think I have a couple more. Feel free to add these to your list and let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

 

[Spartaner545]

1913 Erfurt SB O.M.D.M.C.A. 38 (LG) - Ostasiatische Marine Detachment Matrosen (Cuxhaven) Abteilung

I would think that your (very, very rare!) marking will most likley read as "O.M.D. M. G. A. 38. - Ostasiatisches Marine Detachement, Maschinen-Gewehr-Abteilung, weapon no. 38.

With kind regards

Vincent

 

[Slash]

I would think that your (very, very rare!) marking will most likley read as "O.M.D. M. G. A. 38. - Ostasiatisches Marine Detachement, Maschinen-Gewehr-Abteilung, weapon no. 38. With kind regards Vincent

Thanks for your comments. With all due respect, the making is O.M.D.M.C.A as originally stated. The regimental marking was identified/verified by Jeff Noll many years ago. This is also a published piece and a couple of other examples have been recorded.

 

[MichaelWC]

Thanks for your comments. With all due respect, the making is O.M.D.M.C.A as originally stated. The regimental marking was identified/verified by Jeff Noll many years ago. This is also a published piece and a couple of other examples have been recorded.

Thanks Slash and Vincent. I will edit the list and add both of your guys bayonets.

 

[Spink11]

Hi, new to this forum.

Found the above post interesting, as I purchased a Bayonet about 35 years ago in Zimbabwe (formally Rhodesia) for Z$50 ( about a weeks wages or £4.50 in UK money at that time) and seems to fit with the info above..

it is in pretty good condition with only light markings/damage to the blade, release button works, scabbard only has light rust in places and no dings.
It seems quite unique, as the handles are not wood or leather, appear to be some kind of composite (?) but clearly correct as screws have ordinance inspection makings on them, and no signs of having been tampered with.
The bayonet and scabbard have matching serial numbers KS5xx3 ( 4 digit number)
It was made by ERFURT and dated 1913, and as can be seen has a sawback - still sharp, so appears to have had little or no use.

Can anyone shed some light on it? I assume it was a take home war trophy, as Rhodesia was a British Colony.

Does anyone have any idea as to what it's value would be know - sure it must be more than £4.50..

Any info would be appreciated

 

[Rutche]

I dont think the K.S.5xx3 is a serial number, but a Unit marking of a unit in German South West Africa. Someone will for sure chime in on this one

 

[Amberg]

Seitengewehr 1898/1905 (S98/05)
1909 Erfurt III.SB. 5.51 5th (Mounted) Company of the III. Seebatallion based at Tsingtao, weapon number 51.

That one also bears a "Ku. 1616" unit stamp.
Do you have any other bayonets recorded with the "Ku" (Kiautschou ?) stamp?
Like this one:

Super double matched S98aA - Kaiserliche Marine See-Bataillon III Staff

This is a real piece of history regarding the Imperial German Navy. I believe this S98aA was originally marked to the Kiautschou district in China, and then reissued to the staff of See-Bataillon III. The amazing part about this is that the rig stayed together through the years. I have...

www.k98kforum.com

Thanks

 

[MichaelWC]

Hi, new to this forum.

Found the above post interesting, as I purchased a Bayonet about 35 years ago in Zimbabwe (formally Rhodesia) for Z$50 ( about a weeks wages or £4.50 in UK money at that time) and seems to fit with the info above..

it is in pretty good condition with only light markings/damage to the blade, release button works, scabbard only has light rust in places and no dings.
It seems quite unique, as the handles are not wood or leather, appear to be some kind of composite (?) but clearly correct as screws have ordinance inspection makings on them, and no signs of having been tampered with.
The bayonet and scabbard have matching serial numbers KS5xx3 ( 4 digit number)
It was made by ERFURT and dated 1913, and as can be seen has a sawback - still sharp, so appears to have had little or no use.

Can anyone shed some light on it? I assume it was a take home war trophy, as Rhodesia was a British Colony.

Does anyone have any idea as to what it's value would be know - sure it must be more than £4.50..

Any info would be appreciated

kS98 bayonet with composition grips from the South West African Schutztruppe. It has been re-gripped with composition grips made of unvulcanised rubber first introduced in 1914.

 

[tpw]

Hi all,

Very worthy project. I would like to add this recently found example:

1909 Erfurt S98/05 aA S marked to the 5th (Mounted) Company, 3rd Seebataillon, weapon no. 56 with cancelled 'Ku 1595' Kiautschou mark and traces of 'K' under 'III' on quillion.

Best regards,
Tom.

 

[Amberg]

1909 Erfurt S98/05 aA S marked to the 5th (Mounted) Company, 3rd Seebataillon, weapon no. 56 with cancelled 'Ku 1595' Kiautschou mark and traces of 'K' under 'III' on quillion.

Great! Thanks.
Very close to this one:

German Colonial Uniforms - Bayonets of the Imperial German Colonial Police Forces

III.SB. 5.51. / Ku 1616