S14 Gottscho SM bayonet

[Peter S]

Finally got around to taking a couple of pics of this one. Had it for a long time. It's an S14 made by Gottscho SM. I believe it is a type "B", going by the way that the pommel is attached. Anyone have any thoughts about the unit marking? Thanks in advance for looking/commenting.

 

[Sir Mortimer]

Nice piece you got there! It is indeed a "type B" pommel construction. The unit marking is a bavarian one, from the "Cheveaulegers" cavalry unit. 15,000 Gottscho SM bayonets in total were delivered to Bavaria, with the typical "c/W bavarian-style" acceptance stamp on the blade spine, whereas Gottscho SD bayets (delivered to Württemberg) have a "c/S" stamp. The "Cheveaulegers" cavalry was unit type only known in Bavaria.
So your stamp reads either "5th Cheveaulegers Regiment, 4th squadron, Weapon nr. 53" or "5th Cheveaulegers Regiment, Weapon nr. 453"; When the bavarian cavalry received these bayonets after March 1915, the unit stampings didn't follow the pre-war standardized rules any longer and unit armorers stamped whatever they wanted.
In the "Seitengewehr 1914" book by Jackson there are other Cheveaulegers unit markings on Gottscho SM bayonets listed, the prefix "B" denoting "Bayerisches/Bavarian":

B.3.Ch.R.
B.3.Ch.R. 3.20
3.Ch.1.170
B.8.Ch.R.

Interesting to see the armorer using only capital letters (maybe to save time?), but also seen on other bayonets with different unit markings, too.

 

[Peter S]

Thank you very much for the detailed reply!

 

[bruce98k]

Super S14!

 

[AndyB]

Yes the explanation should be as mentioned by Mortimer, hard to confirm its a 4.company and weapon nr.53 or as the 453 weapon nr. in Chevauleger Regt. Condition of blade preserved excellent by scabbard.

 

[pwcosol]

Ahhh Peter... always with a treasure to be shared with your fellows! Nice piece to be sure!