Any information on bayonet welcome

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Contristador
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Joined: 11 Nov 2013, 13:47

Any information on bayonet welcome

#1

Post by Contristador » 18 Aug 2015, 00:33

Hi there,
This was very much the fourth bayonet in an auction lot I bought, so I didn't pay it much attention at the time, but after examining it I would appreciate some help in identification.
The ricasso is marked JWh with 42 stamped on the thinner side section, so presumably it was French manufactured on behalf of the Reich at Chatellerault in 1942. The ricasso reverse is stamped "5993 e". The overall length is 233mm with the blade length 140mm.

Can anyone throw some light on this one for me?

With those dimensions I wonder if the blade has been heavily ground down and reshaped- it is certainly extraordinarily sharp - but the hilt does not appear to have been reworked.

Many thanks.

20150817_141442 (Mobile).jpg
Pommel top
20150817_141442 (Mobile).jpg (31.69 KiB) Viewed 328 times
20150817_141250 (Mobile).jpg
Whole weapon
20150817_141250 (Mobile).jpg (49.92 KiB) Viewed 328 times
20150817_141416 (Mobile).jpg
Flashguard
20150817_141416 (Mobile).jpg (43 KiB) Viewed 328 times
"Antwerp? If we reach the Meuse we should go down on our knees and thank God!"

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Richie B
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Location: UK

Re: Any information on bayonet welcome

#2

Post by Richie B » 18 Aug 2015, 08:49

You are correct on the manufacturer. The bayonet has been heavily modified - the pommel has been removed and the blade shortened and re-shaped.

An un-modified jwh 42 is shown here

http://k98.free.fr/jwh42-5363e.html


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John G.
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Re: Any information on bayonet welcome

#3

Post by John G. » 18 Aug 2015, 10:23

It's been turned into a "fighting knife", many "surplus or captured" bayonets were modified both durning and after the war by various countries and on an indivigual basis (by the soldiers themselfs)... for obvious reasons...

Unusual, but mainly of more interest to a "military fighting knife collector" than a German WW 2 collector....(most such modifications are postwar).

Just my 10 cents worth...
John G.

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Contristador
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Joined: 11 Nov 2013, 13:47

Re: Any information on bayonet welcome

#4

Post by Contristador » 18 Aug 2015, 14:34

Thank you both Richie & John, that is exactly the information I needed to clear up the mystery.
A curio therefore to keep on the edge of the collection.

Peter
"Antwerp? If we reach the Meuse we should go down on our knees and thank God!"

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