Early/Scarce* Danish M1915 Bayonet for the ‘Krag Jorgensen Rifle’ and Steel Scabbard. 20821:1. Bayonets

Contrary to the current trend for shorter bayonets Denmark, in 1915, introduced the sword bayonet for use on the ’Krag Jorgensen rifle’. This example has unusual aluminium grips rather than the usual wooden (see page 58 No 160 of White & Watts) for a wooden grip version. The blade is T-backed (blade length; 39 ¼ cm, overall; 51 ½ cm). It is a strong thrusting weapon but because of the small dimensions of the hilt it doesn’t lend itself easy to handle. The scabbard is black metal *it appears to have been later painted*. Many of these bayonets were taken from Denmark by Germans in World War Two and issued to their own forces, especially prison camp guards. Danish ex-prisoners of war reported seeing camp guards armed with Krag Jorgensen rifles and equipped with the M1915 bayonet. In 1942 around 60,000 rifles and bayonets were taken by the Germans, and later another 50,000 disappeared. Many of these bayonets were lost during the war and its aftermath and it is therefore hardly surprising that this bayonet is now rather hard to find. There are no manufacturers’ marks to be found on the bayonet or scabbard. The price for this scarce bayonet includes UK delivery. 20821:1.