Model 88/98 Bayonet
(Seitengewehr 88/98)
So to start, let us ask about the elephant in the room:
Was the Ersatz used as a last ditch bayonet?
No it was not. It is indeed from WW1 and it is very much German. But, it was NOT EVER a "last ditch" item, as many people/vendors like to tell as it was the case in WW2. That's usually done to jack up prices and rip off people that have vague knowledge of "WW2 last ditch" items. For WW1 it was quite the contrary, these were made for approximately half a year, from late 1914 to mid 1915 in the hundreds of thousands with a wide range of variety.
Correctly, these are called "Aushilfs-seitengewehr 88/98" ("Auxiliary sidearm") nowadays, but in period German documents they simply were named "Seitengewehr 88/98", not "Ersatz" ("replacement"). These bayonets were produced to help fill a (temporary) gap in production when the German Armee was expanding rapidly in size and the pre-war standard equipment production couldn't keep up with wartime demands. In the case of bayonets, the famous blade makers in Solingen and Suhl still needed time to convert their production lines to the 98/05 pattern for the Gewehr 98. The blade blanks were produced and then sent out to lots of small, local metalworking shops all over Germany that had access to basic machinery where a handle was attached to the blades. The crossguard was designed in such a way, that the bayonet can be mounted on both the older Gewehr 88 and the newer Gewehr 98, hence there's a huge variation pool with different handle/crossguard combinations. There are ~60 versions with this blank style of blade/metal grip combination. All "Aushilfs-seitengewehr" patterns in total are 150+ variations. Due to the makeshift nature, the only acceptance stamp was a single one on either the blade spine or side near the crossguard that deemed the blade blank "fit for service".
But why the name "Ersatz" in english? Let us start with the definition of Ersatz, 'Ersatz' is a replacement product, used in the absence of the product normally used, a substitute product and of lower value.
German with a P08 Holster and a 'EB47' Bayonet.
German with a 'EB4' Bayonet mounted on a Gew98
Germany knew that the conflict would last and would therefore be economically difficult, moreover it anticipated a maritime blockade of the English and French which could cause a shortage of raw materials essential for the German industry and economy. The Germans primary objective in regards to production of bayonets in quantity, quickly and at a low cost, with armament being a priority. The private industry would quickly become associated with the production of military equipment.
The first step was to use/transform all obsolete bayonets, foreign bayonets of catch or bought from merchants. Then after that, they began production of bayonets of simplified manufacture. Taking advantage of the techniques used in the private industry, suitable for the manufacture of weapons, the ersatz bayonets, often made of steel, later with brass handle, are manufactured by molding, stamping, stapling and other techniques unusual for the armaments industry of the time.
These bayonets were manufactured according to a fairly simple specification, adapted to the specificity of the designated company, which can explain the variations encountered in particular on the dimensions and shapes of the handles of the ersatz bayonets. They were then checked and approved and present as such one or more punches in particular on the back of the blade and on the cruise, sometimes at the heel of the blade.
Once made and approved, they were sent out to be distributed.
They were given to the newly raised and trained troops that were in so-called "Ersatz-Bataillone" of a regiment ("Replacement/Substitute Battalions") and were transferred from the "Ersatz" unit to the active regiment after their training. They took the issued bayonet with them into the field. So the army needed replacement in manpower, but this bayonet pattern wasn't about to "replace" the previous standard one! That's a false conclusion.
The german army officially used the following patterns:
-
The very long and thin S98 from the beginning of the war to December 1914. Although you still see them in use until mid-1915 when they were finally replaced.
-
The "Seitengewehr 88/98" from December 1914- mid 1915 as a makeshift stop gap bayonet, because the industry was converting to the more sturdy and robust S98/05 (Butcher Blade) pattern by mid 1915 to the end of WW1 for infantrie.
Please note, the "older" bayonet types weren't actively withdrawn from rear line service.
So I have several German Ersatz Bayonets I need to get the time to start photographing. However, I will start work on that in August, once 3 other articles I have been working on is completed and published. Until then, I hope the written article will meet your satisfaction in the mean time.
