References are to:
German Bayonets - Vol. III by Anthony Carter
The Collectors Book of German Bayonets - Part 2 by Roy Williams
German Ersatz Bayoners by Christian Mery
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GERMAN ERSATZ, ERSOC & MODIFIED BAYONETS
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The German production of ‘ersatz’ bayonets was due to a shortage of first grade weapons for front line troops during World War 1. To make up the shortfall, manufacturers produced weapons that had none of the quality finish of regulation bayonets, but were nevertheless of high quality material, and just as effective.
These ‘emergency’ bayonets were issued generally to rear echelon troops and ‘home-guard’ units.
A serious study of these bayonets was initially undertaken by collector and author Anthony Carter in the 1990s. He devised a cataloguing system by numbering each variation with the prefix EB (ersatz knife blade bayonet) and ES (ersatz socket blade bayonet), published in Vol. III of 'German Bayonets'. This cataloguing system became universally accepted.
Other leading collectors have since published further works on the subject, notably Roy Williams, who maintained Carters EB catalogue system, supplementing it with his own numbering system in order to identify unknown, or sub-category variations. Williams catalogue numbers are identified as RW
The bayonets listed below use both systems of identification relevant to each particular example.'German Ersatz Bayonets', recently published by Christian Mery, also provides further valuable information, and is referred to in this list where appropriate, as 'CM' together with the page number.
Some German modified bayonets included in these lists. Germany made good use of modifying bayonets of other nationalities, essentially to supplement the supply of purpose made ersatz bayonets.
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#E032
- A scarce ersatz knife bayonet, with cast steel hilt and 297mm single edge blade, wide fullers with rounded ends.
Hilt retains clear traces of original feldgrey paint. Blade stamped with fraktur crown/B. Muzzle ring removed.
Fair condition
EB25 - RW469 variation
US$170.00
#E009
- Ersatz knife bayonet. Two piece cast steel hilt with nine diagonal grooves both sides. A thick steel crossguard with double diameter muzzle ring.
A single edge blade with a wide fuller variation, with crown/R fraktur.
Complete with type III scabbard.
Very good condition
EB49 variation - RW511 variation
US$385
#E090
- Ersatz knife bayonet. Brass hilt with open muzzle ring cast in one piece with a round steel press stud and internal spring. 309mm single edge steel blade, with crown/P fraktur.
Complete with type V scabbard.
Very Good condition
EB21 – RW454
US$540.00
#E071
- Ersatz knife bayonet. Rivetted two piece pressed steel hilt with a 307mm fullered blade.
Fraktur markings on top of blade and left ricasso. The left crossguard nicely stamped : BA VIII 5 K 125 (Bekleidungsambt of the 8th Army Korps)
Complete with a type V all steel scabbard.
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Very Good condition
EB47 - RW505
SOLD
#E108
- A good example of a French M1866 sword bayonewt, a German 'capture' during the Franco-Prussian War, and modified to fit the Gewehr M/71 and 71/84.
Good history to this piece. Right ricasso: French inspection marks. Back of blade: St. Etienne Juin 1869.
Crossguard stamped: 1G. LI . 2.237 - 1st. Garde-Landwehr-Infantrie-Regiment, 1st Batallion, Second Company, weapon n°237
Complete with all steel scabbard, with German modified frog stud.
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Good condition
RW726 - CM p.172
US$295.00
#E081
- Ersatz knife bayonet. A cast steel hilt with a sharp beak and raised re-inforcement around the locking catch.
Scarce example with a milled muzzle ring. M uch remins of the original black paint on the hilt. A 309mm single edge, fullered blade with a crown/P fraktur.
Complete with a type II scabbard.
Very good condition
EB23 - RW462
US$385.00
#E113
- Ersatz knife bayonet. Cast brass hilt with open muzzle ring with raised reinforcement piece around the press catch. 356mm single edge steel blade, with crown/D fraktur.
Complete with type V scabbard.
Very Good condition
EB22 modified – RW456
US$490.00
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