References are to:
'German Bayonets - Vol. III' by Anthony Carter, and 'The Collectors Book of German Bayonets - Part 2' by Roy Williams
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GERMAN ERSATZ AND ERSOC BAYONETS
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The German production of ‘ersatz’ bayonets was caused by the shortage of first grade weapons for front line troops during World War 1. To make up the shortfall, manufacturers produced weapons that had none of the quality finish of regulation bayonets, but were nevertheless of high quality material, and just as deadly.
Similar production methods were applied to obsolete socket bayonets. Manufacturers were supplied with quantities of obsolete bayonets acquired when Belgium and its arms production complexes were overrun in 1914. Blades were remounted in simplified hilts designed to fix onto a number of current service rifles. In collector parlance, these have become known as ‘ersoc’ (ersatz/socket) bayonets.
These ‘emergency’ bayonets were issued generally to rear echelon troops and ‘home-guard’ units.
The serious study of these bayonets was initially undertaken by collector and author Anthony Carter in the 1990s. He devised a cataloguing system by numbering each variation with the prefix EB (ersatz bayonet) and ES (ersatz socket), published in Vol. III of 'German Bayonets'. This cataloguing system became universally accepted.
Subsequent to Carters seminal work, other leading collectors have published further works on the subject, notably Roy Williams, who maintained Carters EB catalogue system, supplementing it with his own numbering system in order to identify unknown, or sub-category variations. Williams catalogue numbers are identified as RW in the listings below.
The bayonets listed below use both systems of identification relevant to each particular example.As shipping costs can be a deterrent, the following incentive is offered.
For an order of three or more bayonets, a discount of 8% on the total will be applied. Items will be consolidated into one shipping package, thus spreading the mailing cost over all items purchased, resulting the most economical despatch.
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#E016 - 312mm single edge blade stamped with fraktur mark. Complete with type IV scabbard. Some staining to blade. Much original feldgrau paint remaining on hilt and scabbard.Very good condition.
EB9 – RW434
US$165.00
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#E020
- 309mm single edge blade, stamped with fraktur crown/V and crown/P. Serial number on right crossguard. Complete with type II FAG scabbard. Traces of feldgrau paint.
Very Good condition
EB45 – RW503
US$345.00
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#E033
- 314mm single edge blade, stamped with fraktur B. Muzzle ring removed.
Good condition
EB17 – RW446
US$245.00
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#E064
- 315mm single edge blade, stamped with fraktur crown/B. Crossguard stamped with Field Artillery unit markings. Blade excellent condition,
hilt with surface rust.
Good condition
EB3 – RW422
US$175.00
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#E088
- A superb example of this scarce full butcher blade bayonet. 360mm single edge blade, fraktur stamped crown/D, and
complete with correct scabbard.
Very good condition
EB41 – RW496
US$365.00
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E104
- An excellent example of this scarce cast steel hilt ersatz bayonet. 307mm single edge blade impressed with fraktur crown/K. Crossguard
stamped with E.L.85: 85th Landwehr infanterie regiment (Holstein, north Germany). Complete with Type I scabbard.
#E002
- British P1853 triangular 430mm socket blade mounted on a pressed steel hilt. Blade fraktur stamped crown/T and crown/A, and hilt impressed C.T.S.
Complete with type VI tubular scabbard, missing throat.
#E043
- A US M1855 export blade (Remington), 437mm long, and stamped with fraktur crown/G, Mounted on a pressed steel Group I Type ‘A’ hilt.
Complete with tubular scabbard, throat missing.
E045
- An unrecorded ersoc bayonet with an M1841 Dreyse socket blade, 440mm long. Ricasso fraktur stamped crown/A, with crown/T.
Inside the muzzle ring. Mounted on a Group 1, Type ‘A’ pressed steel stamped C.T.S. Complete with a tubular steel scabbard, throat missing.
#E046
- A Belgian M1873 Gendamerie socket blade mounted on a pressed steel Group 1, Type ‘A’ hilt, stamped C.T.S.
The blade 455mm long, and stamped with fraktur crown/G.
#E049
- A Liège made Swiss M1842 socket blade 441mm long, mounted on a Group 1, Type ‘B’ press steel hilt. Blade ricasso
stamped NC 30. Hilt and blade tip AF.
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Very Good condition
EB53 - RW517
US$495.00
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Good condition
ES13 - RW560
US$350.00
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Very Good condition
ES32 – RW594
US$330.00
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Good condition
No reference
US$330.00
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Good condition
ES10 – RW555
US$300.00
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Good condition
ES26 – RW586
US$265.00
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