Seitengewehr 98 aA Erfurt W99

[PrayingMantis]

I have a backlog of bayonets I need to photograph, including some awesome ones I got from a forum member here, but I had to push this one to the top because I haven’t seen another early one with matching scabbard and thought getting the acceptance would be helpful.

The bayonet itself is mostly c/T while the scabbard is c/O. Both of which are pretty typical on Erfurt through bayonet production. The numbers on the back below the cypher are interesting, I’ve noticed them on a few other W99s.

 

[PrayingMantis]

Scabbard and unit marking.

 

[AndyB]

Nice one matching complete, about the proof letters i would have different opinion but is certainly not important here. Evidently is that the bayonet was made earlier and endproofed later with scabbard. From this are 2 different proofs on pommel for endproof. The unit is Garde Grenadier 5.R. Early production of S98aA were numbered on spine tang. Also normal here.
"Das Regiment wurde am 31. März 1897 (Stiftungstag) aus den IV. (Halb-)Bataillonen des 2. und 4. Garde-Regiments zu Fuß, des Kaiser Alexander Garde-Grenadier-Regiments Nr. 1, des Kaiser Franz Garde-Grenadier-Regiments Nr. 2 gebildet. Es formierte sich zu zwei Bataillonen und war in Spandau stationiert. Der Regimentsstab, das I. Bataillon sowie die 5. und 6. Kompanie waren in der Stresow-Kaserne I, die 7. Kompanie in der Moritz-Kaserne und die 8. Kompanie in der Kaserne I einquartiert. "

 

[PrayingMantis]

Thanks for input, Andy. Good information. You are right, that is not a D, i used to think it was and it’s hard to correct myself. I’m pretty sure it’s a c/O.

 

[AndyB]

Yes it should be c/O.