This brass hilt ersatz bayonet was made in Germany in the early years of WW1 and is one of the rarer of the ersatz bayonets. The height of ersatz bayonet manufacturing was 1916, as the Imperial German war machine rushed to equip the huge number of new troops. This pattern of ersatz bayonet has been designated under Carter’s classification as EB22 and appears on page 66 of Anthony Carter’s book.
The 308mm single-edged blade has a flat spine and terminates in a false upper edge and spear point. The blade is in excellent condition with minimal speckles of tarnish. The spine bears a fracture inspection stamp.
The cast brass hilt is in excellent condition, showing the characteristic long muzzle ears, false cross guard, birds-beak pommel and press-stud mechanism with a raised border. The attachment mechanism is in perfect working order. The blade is held firmly within the brass grip by two steel rivets.
The bayonet is complete with its original steel scabbard which is in excellent condition. The scabbard has been re-painted, returning it to its original feld grau colour. The bayonet sheathes and draws smoothly and is held firmly within the scabbard.
This is a highly desirable and rarely encountered Great War ersatz bayonet in fantastic condition and guaranteed genuine.
