A ‘PUBLISHED’ MUSEUM QUALITY EXAMPLE OF AN EXTREMELY RARE FIRST WORLD WAR GERMAN ES30 'ERSATZ' (SUBSTITUTE) STRAIGHT TYPE A HILTED SOCKET BAYONET AND TYPE VI SCABBARD ADAPTED FROM A UNITED STATES MADE M1835 OR M1842 SOCKET BAYONET (ES30 - WILLIAMS) MANUFACTURED TO FIT THE GEWEHR 88 COMMISSION RIFLE AND THE GEWEHR 98.  

 

This actual bayonet is pictured on page 244 of Roy Williams seminal reference ‘The Collectors Book of German Bayonets 1680-1945 Part Two’ as bayonet number 592 (see pictures).  It has been classified as an ES30 by Williams who states that its fitted with a “Type A hilt using the United States M1835 or M1842 socket bayonet”. Its fitted with a Type VI ersatz scabbard in very good condition.  These Ersatz (German for substitute) Socket bayonets are often described by collectors as ERSOC bayonets, a name derived from combining the two words Ersatz and Socket. Its a ‘museum quality’ example of what Anthony Carter in his seminal ‘German Bayonets, Volume III’ refers to as an EB 67. Its a very scarce 'ERSOC' socket type that was made by mating the triangular cruciform blade of an obsolete US M.1835 or M1842 Socket Bayonet to a new hilt (hence the name, coined by Roy Williams, Ersatz Socket - ERSOC). It’s highly possible that this is one of the only surviving examples of an extremely rare variant of a less than common type.

 

The introduction of these 'Ersatz' bayonets dates back to the early days of WW1, when Germany could not meet, from existing stocks and production facilities, the increased demand for equipment from the rapidly expanding Imperial German Forces (consisting of Prussian, Saxon, and Bavarian Army’s).   Attempts were therefore made to supplement the regular issue with simplified patterns. As no approved pattern was defined, many different variants exist, amongst these was an assortment of old socket bayonets that were completely re-hilted by the Germans. The socket was removed, the elbow reshaped to form a new blade tang, then fitted with either a cast brass or steel hilt to fit the Gewehr 88 and 98 rifles and also some captured weapons. Ersatz bayonets were by definition simple, mass produced and by pre-war standards, crude, weapons designed to fill a gap.  Many different types were produced and most, had plain steel hilts with integral pommel and grips and fullered or plain blades. Examples with straight hilts, are rare and socket bladed types even more so.  All were issued with a field-grey painted finish, although very few socket bladed types still retain their original finish.  The combination of hilt and socket blade on this bayonet makes it very unusual.

Attached to this listing are four pictures showing German troops carrying similar bayonets, the first is of a Machine Gun at Ypres in August 1915  titled 'Second Festungs-Mascinengewehr-Zug' Königlich Bayerische 25. Infanterie-Regiment of II. Hanging from a peg on the entrance to the dugout is some belt order with an ERSOC bayonet attached. The second image shows two Grenadiers of Lieb-Grenadier-Regiment Konig Friedrich Wilhelm III. (1 Brandenburgisches) Nr.8 ERSOC.  Interestingly and relevant to this listing, the Landser on the left has a US bladed ERSOC bayonet fixed to his rifle.  The next image shows the Kronprinz Wilhelm inspecting Prussian troops, some of who have ERSOC bayonets hanging from their belts.  The next image shows two Hessian Landsturm-Infanterie of 49. Infanterie-Brigade (1.Großherzoglich Hessische).  The man on the left has an ERSOC bayonet fixed to his rifle.  I’ve attached the final picture, as unlike the others, it was reported to have been taken late in the war in 1917.  It shows an Obergefreiter of 50. Infanterie-Regt of 28. Div, with an ERSOC bayonet hanging from his belt.  He appears to have just been awarded an Iron Cross.

Ersatz Socket bladed bayonets were issued with one of ten different variants of thin zinc coated or steel scabbards, soldered down the side seam and fitted with a throat shaped for the issued socket blade. This example is fitted with a Type VI scabbard of painted zinc coated steel, with a large shaped scabbard throat, rounded finial and a small round steel frogstud which on this example is now missing. A simple riveted internal spring secures the bayonet in the scabbard and a small round mushroom shaped button in steel is placed to fit the belt frog.  These scabbards were relatively fragile and are very often missing even when the bayonet exists.  This Type VI scabbard is in very good condition with evidence of use consistent with age and use and still retains traces of its original painted finish (see picture). 

 

This bayonet has a two-piece painted smooth Type A steel hilt with no oil hole, flat section steel crossguard with single diameter open muzzle ring.  US manufactured M1835 or M1842 bayonet blade in superb condition, stamped on the ricasso with a German Crown G above a Crown A acceptance mark. Williams notes that; “cracks in the weld show the original shape of the shoulders”. The mortise is still operational while the Hilt retains traces of its original field grey painted finish.

 

The bayonet is still accompanied by Roy Williams original paper label in which he initially identified the bayonet as: D.03 US M1835/42 (see photo).  In his book, ‘The Collectors Book of German Bayonets 1680-1945 Part Two’, he describes this bayonet as having a ‘pressed steel hilt with some field grey paint. Triangular steel blade with rounded fullers, ricasso with a German Crown G above Crown A acceptance mark.’

 

Type: Ersatz Socket ES30

Maker: U/k US made M1835 or M1842

Overall Length: 560.0 mm

Blade Length: 437.0 mm

Blade Width (at guard):  20.0 mm

Scabbard: Type VI, 488.0 mm Painted Zinc

 

It is generally accepted amongst collectors that Ersatz bayonets with obsolete socket blades are amongst the rarest of First World War bayonets. What makes this example particularly special, apart from its rarity, is the fact that it’s a published example.  Bayonets used to illustrate reference works rarely come up for sale and a bayonet like this which appears in the definitive reference for German Ersatz types is even less common. This bayonet is a unicorn.

 

POSTAGE:  I don't clip the ticket on shipping, so what you pay is what it costs to ship. US buyers are requested to wait for their invoice before payment.

I’m also happy to post to Queensland to buyers I have dealt with in the past or first-time buyers willing to provide proof that they are over 18.