German Bayonet - 1944

[Old Hunter]

Friend of mine gave me this bayonet this past week - it was in his late fathers collection of military rifles and equipment. He knows nothing about it, his Dad was a Marine and served in both Korea and in Vietnam but not in WW-II or in Europe, so he didn’t bring it back. I have found out this much: cof is the code for Carl Eickhorn Waffenfabrik, Solingen, the company manufactured bayonets from 1941-45. The scabbard and the knife have the same serial number. I found no marks on the frog. OH

[Bladeaholic]

K98 Bayonet. Mauser Rifle. Good that the numbers are the same. A true match.

[Old Hunter]

Thanks!

[1967redrider]

Most excellent, OH! And the frog looks really nice too, a lot of times they fall to pieces due to improper storage. Interesting that bayonets didn't have RZM numbers, but had other codes.

[EWMailman]

Nice addition OH. I had opportunity a couple of years back to sell at auction a piece very similar to yours. I was told by a gentleman who seemed credible enough that matching serial numbers were a little harder to come by. According to him, upon surrender, bayonets were placed in one pile while scabbards were placed in an entirely different location thus separating them. I cannot verify that but it seems plausible enough and if accurate, very interesting.

[Old Hunter]

Gents, thank you for the additional information. The frog is in excellent shape for its age, no splits or tears - its intact. OH