Mauser rifle bayonet (1934-1945). 1939 – Berg&Co 39. [Berg & Co]. Sharpened blade. Matching numbers.

A legendary bayonet that became the true “signature weapon” of the German soldier during World War II. This modernized variant of the S84/98 bayonet was created specifically for use with the Mauser Gewehr 98 rifle and was mass-produced by the German weapons industry, remaining in service with the Wehrmacht throughout the entire war period.

The Berg&Co 39 marking indicates that the bayonet was manufactured in 1939. This particular date adds special value to the specimen: the year marking the beginning of World War II makes examples with such markings especially sought after among collectors.

The manufacturer, Berg & Co, was a German firm specializing in the production of edged weapons and bayonets in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The company was located in Solingen, the traditional center of weapons manufacturing in Germany. The Berg & Co marking is found predominantly on bayonets produced under contract for the military department.

The blade was sharpened in field conditions to provide the bayonet with additional combat or utility functions, as most German bayonets were issued without factory sharpening and were intended primarily for thrusting. In the ground forces, such sharpening was officially prohibited. However, excavation results from former Luftwaffe positions show that bayonets with sharpened blades are found quite frequently, indicating the widespread practice of such field modifications among Luftwaffe personnel, particularly in paratrooper units.

Matching numbers on the blade and scabbard confirm their original pairing from the time of manufacture. Such specimens are encountered considerably less frequently due to combat losses and postwar reassembly, which significantly increases the collectible value of this example.