1915 Imperial German S98/05 “Butcher’s Blade” Bayonet by V.C. Schilling Suhl

Here on offer is a fine example of an Imperial German S98/05 “Butcher’s Blade” (2nd pattern) Bayonet by V.C. Schilling Suhl dated to 1915.

My understanding is that Germany used a wide variety of bayonets on the Mauser Gew-8 and Kar-98 rifles. They entered World War 1 issuing the 1898/05 or ‘Butcher Blade’ model.

A small percentage of German bayonets were made with a saw back. They were only issued to non-commissioned officers or pioneer troops.

The plain back version was identified as the S98/05 or S98/05 o.S. (ohne Säge - without saw) and the saw back as the S98/05 S or m.S. (mit Säge - with saw). About 6% of blades made were fitted with the saw back. The saw back version was phased out during the war due to negative Allied propaganda. Most had the saw back ground off and re-issued.

At the beginning of WWI it was found that the S98/05 had a problem when used with the Karabiner 98 rifle, the shorter barrel on this model led to burning and damage to the grips as the barrel finished before the vestigial muzzle ring, so in 1915 it was decided to fit a steel flash guard (Schutzbleche) to the back of the bayonet to protect the grips.

The bayonet was modified by removing most of the muzzle ring remaining, reducing the back of the tang and adding the flash guard.


On this original untouched example, the pommel bears two waffanampt inspection/acceptance stamps and there are other stamps on the hilt and even the bolt heads of the grip retaining bolts.

The nine grooved wooden grips are in excellent original condition and held firm with two undisturbed dome head bolts.

This 2nd pattern bayonet has a flash guard now with some minor dings, as most do. The release button is still in good working order.

The swept back black painted quillion has a vestigial muzzle ring, often referred to as “high ears”.

The 37cm long single edged blade has a wide, single fuller, which meets the flat spine. The blade which is 26mm wide at the ricasso flares to a width of 33mm before tapering to a point earning its nickname the “Butcher’s Blade” because of its similarity to such knives.

The blade is marked on the front ricasso with the maker’s name “V.C. Schilling, Suhl”. The spine is stamped with the Royal Cypher of Kaiser Wilhelm II of Prussia above the date stamp “15” for 1915 and a crowned acceptance stamp.

The blade now has an age tarnish and some pitting stains near the tip.

It comes with the later plain black painted steel scabbard, which shows a lot of chipping and a grouping of small dings (acceptance stamps?) on the front.



The bayonet is 20.4” (51.7cm) in total length and with the scabbard weighs 850g.

Please see my pictures for the details of the condition, which complement this description.

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Code: 50848