Seitengewehr 98/05 - German “Butcher Blade” Bayonet
The German 98/05 “Butcher Blade” bayonet was the most common bayonet used by the German Heer during WWI, it was called the “Butcher Blade” by the Allies because of it’s shape.
The first pattern butcher bayonet had high ears on the crossguard, was produced from 1906 until 1915 and had originally came with a leather scabbard. The second pattern butcher bayonet has the ears filed down on the crossguard, and was produced from 1915 until 1918, and came with a metal scabbard. A sawback model was made for NCO’s (~6% of all troops) and were designed to be used as a tool (cut wood or barbed wire). These sawback bayonets had 29 teeth on the back of the blade. In 1917, it was mandated that all sawback bayonets have their sawbacks removed (or have them used behind the lines). Otherwise, there were threats by the Allies that any german found with a sawback bayonet would be killed or tortured.
Seitengewehr 98/05 are marked on the spine of the blade to indicate German State of issue & date of acceptance. Below the crown over letter, you’ll find a 2 digit number indicating the date of acceptance.
I found my 98/05 Butcher Blade Bayonet at a local gun shop. It is dated 1915 & is marked on the spine crown over W. It is the sawback version, however, the sawback has been removed in 1917. This 98/05 bayonet was manufactured by Simson & Co. Suhl.
Here is a photo of another Seitengewehr 98/05 from my bayonet collection.
This one is dated 1916 & has been cutdown, possibly the turks who traditionally cut down bayonets. This one never had a sawback as you see that the back of the blade is straight. It is marked Waffenfabrik Mauser AG Oberndorf a.N.
Here is the pair of Seitengewehr 98/05 in their scabbards.
(added 12/05/07)
I picked up another German 98/05 Butcher Bayonet. This one is dated 1914 & was manufactured by V. Schilling, Suhl.
To learn more about Seitengewehr 98/05, visit the following websites.
Makers & Rarities of 98/05 Butcher Bayonets
just been given one of these blades with a crown w18. would like to know if they would have used these during ww2
Andy, W18 is 1918, so your bayonet is WWI era. It is very unlikely it saw any service during WWII as the germans changed production to the other variants & models such as the S84/98 & its variants known to be called K98 bayonets.
Hi
S98/05 was used during the period between the wars as well as during WWII. I am not up on what troops used these, but Police & Luftwaffe units come to mind. You can tell which ones saw service Post WWI a coule of ways. Some will have the date 1920 stamped on them, in accordence with the Versailles Treaty. Any that have been blued are supposed to be WWII use also.
My family has had a old butchers 9805 bayonet in our possession for lord knows how many years… Not really knowing much about the blade till this past month. Ive found a number of marking on it and it has the sawback still intact. Its a Simson & Co Suhl But i could not find a P, B, or S marking anywhere… All i have is a Crown over W, with 16 then a smaller crown over RG and another crown over the gothic L. On the latch button there is another crown stamp and on the other side of the handle there is 2 crown stamps side by side… But the one stamp really throwing me off is a .22 on the underside of the blade directly before the crossguard. The only marking on the crossguard is a crown. And can only be seen clear if your looking down the edge of the blade in the direction of the handle. Any information about the makers or what all the markings would mean would be much appreciated!!! ~ G