1918 - Turkish/German shortened Ersatz bayonet - Captured / retrieved on the Marne Battlefield in July 1918 by Lieutenant K.W. Howry, 15th Battery Artillery US Army

Object/Artifact

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Musée Canadian Grenadier Guards Museum

Name/Title

1918 - Turkish/German shortened Ersatz bayonet - Captured / retrieved on the Marne Battlefield in July 1918 by Lieutenant K.W. Howry, 15th Battery Artillery US Army

Description

Turkish-shortened German ersatz bayonet captured / retrieved on the Marne Battlefield in July 1918 by Lieutenant K.W. Howry, 15th Battery Artillery US Army. ABOUT THE Turkish-shortened German Ersatz bayonet: Distinguishing characteristics include: a pressed steel grip; flattened pommel butt with a blunt nose and contoured finger edge; stepped one-piece crossguard with two-stage muzzle ears; fullered, German-made blade, shortened. The scabbard is a shortened German ersatz scabbard. In shortening the scabbard, Turkey also cut off the very tip and attached a ball finial.The two-step muzzle ring allows fitment on both the 8 mm. Mauser Gewehr 98 and earlier 8 mm. Gewehr 88 (Commission Rifle). The muzzle-ring diameter listed is for the upper step. Lower step diameter is 0.545 in. (13.8 mm.). Ersatz (substitute) bayonets were made in Germany during the early years of World War I, because there weren't enough regulation bayonets to equip the rapidly expanding army. Ersatz bayonets were manufactured in local workshops, resulting in hundreds of variations. I only have a small number of examples, however, these should aid in making a general identification. The German specification was for a 12-inch blade. In addition to newly-constructed bayonets, Ersatz Bayonets were also created by modifying captured bayonets of other countries. As time went on, these stop-gap bayonets were replaced by regulation bayonets and many went n to Turkish forces. The Turks shortened many blades to 10-inches and shortened examples can be presumed to have been in Turkish hands (or 'Turked' if you like). ABOUT THE US OFFICER - Lieut. KW HOWRY Born in Ithaca, New York in 1896, K.W. Howry was a student at Cornell University when he enlisted with the 15th US Field Artillery Regiment in Syracuse, New York. The United States entered World War I in April 1917. Over 4.7 million men and women served in the regular U.S. forces, national guard units, and draft units with about 2.8 million serving overseas. There were 53,402 killed in action, 63,114 deaths from disease and other causes, and about 205,000 wounded.

Created By

Abdourahamane, Issa

Create Date

August 7, 2024

Updated By

Lieutenant Michael Hayes-Rivet, retired.

Update Date

October 27, 2024