This steel 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 EB25. This rare bayonet is all original, the blade retaining its full length and the muzzle ring intact. The EB25 has a rarity rating of R3 on a rating scale of 1-4. R4 being extremely rare and almost never encountered.
The 316mm single-edged blade has a flat spine above a deep single fuller and terminates in a double-edged spear point. The blade is in excellent condition with minimal speckles of tarnish. The spine bears a fracture inspection stamp.
The cast steel hilt is in excellent condition and retains some of its original paint. The long muzzle ears, false cross guard and birds-beak pommel are characteristic of the EB25. The press-stud attachment mechanism is in perfect working order. The blade is held firmly within the steel grip.
The bayonet is complete with its original Ersatz scabbard which is in excellent condition. The scabbard retains some of its feld grau paint finish. 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.
