References are to:
'German Bayonets - Vol. III' by Anthony Carter, 'The Collectors Book of German Bayonets - Part 2' by Roy Williams, and '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 deadly.
Similar production methods were applied to obsolete socket bayonets. Manufacturers were supplied with quantities of obsolete bayonets acquired when Belgium and its arms production complexes were overrun in 1914. Blades were remounted in simplified hilts designed to fix onto a number of current service rifles. In collector parlance, these have become known as ‘ersoc’ (ersatz/socket) bayonets.
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 bayonet) and ES (ersatz socket), 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 in the listings below.
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.
ERSATZ
#E079
- A scarce EB55 ersazt bayonet with two piece lined wood grip inserts.
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Very Good condition
RW525
US$995.00
#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
#E033
- 314mm single edge blade, stamped with fraktur B. Muzzle ring removed.
Good condition
EB17 – RW446
US$245.00
#E090
- German brass hilt knife bayonet with single edge, unfullered 309mm long blade. A 'crown/p' fraktur stamped on top of the blade.
Good condition
EB21 – RW454
US$540.00
ERSOC
#E036
- British P1853 triangular socket blade 430mm long, mounted on a Group 1, Type 'A' pressed steel hilt. Blade fraktur stamped crown/G and crown/A
Good condition
ES13 - RW560
US$290.00
#E057
- A Bavarian M1858 socket blade mounted on a pressed steel Group 1 type B helt. The 472mm blade stamped with maker Stamm (ST) mark.
Very Good condition
ES03 - RW547
US$395.00
#E060
- A Ličge made, 473mm long Swiss blade for Jägers, likely a Swiss Federal socket bayonet. Mounted on a Group 1, type B pressed steel hilt.
Good condition
ES27
US$465.00
#E002
- British P1853 socket bayonet blade mounted on a pressed steel hilt. Blade fraktur stamped crown/T and crown/A, and hilt impressed C.T.S.
Complete with type VI tubular scabbard, missing throat.
Good condition
ES13 - RW560
US$350.00
#E046
- A Belgian M1873 Gendamerie socket blade mounted on a pressed steel Group 1, Type ‘A’ hilt, stamped C.T.S.
The blade 455mm long, and stamped with fraktur crown/G.
Good condition
ES10 – RW555
US$300.00
MODIFIED
#E082
- An excellent example of a German made Austrian M1895 bayonet. The blade fraktur stamped: crown/C, and dated 1917. Complete with correct steel scasbbard, and scarce, German made frog,
Julius Jansen, Strassburg, dated 1916.
Very Good condition
EB88 - RW677
US$385.00
#E080
- A French M1886 bayonet, captured and reused by the German Army. Pommel end stamped with a German ownership Imperial Eagle.
Good condition
EB127 – RW792
US$380.00
#E101
- A Bavarian M/1869, modified blade 465mm long, with a one step hilt, altered to fit the M1869nM Werder rifle and the Gew.71/84
Very good condition
CM p.129
US$295.00
#E077
- A German captured French M1886 bayonet. Hilt stamped with clear German regimental unit marking. Blade tip missing.
Good condition
EB127 – RW792
US$395.00
#E108
- A good example of a French M1866, a German 'capture' from the Franco-Prussian War, and modified to fit the Gewehr M/71 and 71/84.
Good history to this piece. Right ricasso: Fench inspection marks. Back of blade: St. Etienne Juin 1869.
Ground hilt: 2 Crossguard: 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$395.00
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