Rough dating of K98s by Grip Changes?

Apha-Mike

Apha-Mike

Active member
Here's a pic of 3 of my K98's. A 1934 P. Weyersberg, a 1940 E.U.F Horster and a 1944 Paul Wyersberg. I have a matched Black Bakelite and a Red Bakelite. I'm looking to purchase an early wooden grip
matching but have noticed that some early (1934-1939) Bayonets have Bakelite Handles. I thought that the change from wood to Bakelite was around '41. Does anyone have any information on when
the different grip styles were manufactured? And why the changes were instituted?. I've seen 1939 Bayonets with black bakelites and question how important is it to the value of the bayonet that the grips match those dates? I'm assuming some early blades were retrofitted with later grips if repairs were needed. Thanks!

Three S84_98 III_IMG-2670 (2).jpg
 
As a general rule, wood was utilized until around 1937. Then black phenolic grips came on to the scene into 1941. Lastly, wood fiber-impregnated, orange-reddish grips appeared until production terminated. However, some companies continued to use wood grips and others not, throughout production. One would have to look at a specific manufacturer's total production to get an idea when such changes came and went...
 
I would say Pwcosol is correct, the major changes from wood to plastic was realised prior 1938, i would tend to brown color, later used black by 1939-41 period, since 1942 returned to wood. Since 1943 red colors on plastic grips could be found. The S176K is little sharpened when on left side. When we talk about P.Weyersberg they switched to plastic in 1938 and mostly never returned to wood, or only with small exceptions post 1942.
 
pwcosol said:
As a general rule, wood was utilized until around 1937. Then black phenolic grips came on to the scene into 1941. Lastly, wood fiber-impregnated, orange-reddish grips appeared until production terminated. However, some companies continued to use wood grips and others not, throughout production. One would have to look at a specific manufacturer's total production to get an idea when such changes came and went...
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Thanks! Terrific Answer! That makes the sense given standard manufacturing practices and answers as to the variations I see in pre-war grips.
 
AndyB said:
I would say Pwcosol is correct, the major changes from wood to plastic was realised prior 1938, i would tend to brown color, later used black by 1939-41 period, since 1942 returned to wood. Since 1943 red colors on plastic grips could be found. The S176K is little sharpened when on left side. When we talk about P.Weyersberg they switched to plastic in 1938 and mostly never returned to wood, or only with small exceptions post 1942.
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Thanks Andy B.! Interesting detail regarding P Weyersgerg never returning to wood. Can you recommend a good source (book or Internet) that provides that type of info? Obviously there's more than one. But my internet research, including books, has produced zero in regards to the manufacturers with the exception of markings. Not sure if there's a definitive resource on the K98 Bayonet. Thanks again!
 
There are books available but, I have been waiting for one of our forum members, bruce98k, to release the reprint of his book. Not sure when that will happen, hopefully soon. There is a whole lot of information on bayonets here with lots of pics. Most bayonets posted here get reviewed by some of the best bayonet guys anywhere, period.
So the info you get by reading those posts will help with what you want to know.
 
I would wait for good books, some are already on market.The first part of book by bruce98k is not focused on 1934-45 production.
 
grimlin13 said:
There are books available but, I have been waiting for one of our forum members, bruce98k, to release the reprint of his book. Not sure when that will happen, hopefully soon. There is a whole lot of information on bayonets here with lots of pics. Most bayonets posted here get reviewed by some of the best bayonet guys anywhere, period.
So the info you get by reading those posts will help with what you want to know.
Click to expand...
Thanks! I'll be sure to stay tuned for news on that. And I'm impressed with the speed and quality of the replies to my post so I'll be coming here more often.
 
Apha-Mike said:
... Can you recommend a good source (book or Internet) that provides that type of info? Obviously there's more than one. But my internet research, including books, has produced zero in regards to the manufacturers with the exception of markings. Not sure if there's a definitive resource on the K98 Bayonet. Thanks again!
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IMHO you have already found the most informative, online resource for the information you are seeking. Andy has mentioned the best written resource on the German S84/98...Bruce Karem's "The German S84/98 Bayonet Volume 1: 1908-1933". However, the "Karabiner 98k" book trilogy and "Kriegsmodell", by Karem & Steves, do have many excellent photos of German S84/98 T3s produced during the same time period the rifles covered in each book were manufactured.
 
pwcosol said:
IMHO you have already found the most informative, online resource for the information you are seeking. Andy has mentioned the best written resource on the German S84/98...Bruce Karem's "The German S84/98 Bayonet Volume 1: 1908-1933". However, the "Karabiner 98k" book trilogy and "Kriegsmodell", by Karem & Steves, do have many excellent photos of German S84/98 T3s produced during the same time period the rifles covered in each book were manufactured.
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Thanks! That's probably true but I don't want to waste anyone's time on the easy stuff that can be readily and easily sourced elsewhere. I think you learn at least 5 new things when you research 1 so I'm a believer in doing your own research. But a lot of my questions go beyond anything that you would easily find in a book and tend to ask for opinions based on good solid knowledge. Like my next post.
 
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