UBB.threads Forums Edged Weapons The BCN Bayonet Forum 44 FNJ - Vet Pickup - Near Mint in Cosmoline - Need Opinions On Unmarked Scabbard

Some time ago, I directly obtained this 44 FNJ and a couple other items previously posted here on the forum straight from the family when the Vet died.(slant grip Heer and Shooting/Hunting Dagger)

I am bringing them out to show off as we pack for a forthcoming move.

The scabbard is completely unmarked and nicely anodized. I am 100% sure neither the Vet nor the family touched this since the war. In fact, they did not know it existed.

Here it is still coated in Cosmoline and you can see it packed in the scabbard throat. The wear from the leather on the frog exactly matches the wear to the scabbard finish too by the way and you can see the crud build up on the throat photo.

The frog looks unused and the straps are cut and it's dated 1943. The blade looks mint and the only wear to the bayonet or frog looks to be from storage, not use.

What are your opinions on unmarked scabbards with bayonets? I don't think this one saw combat, looks like a depot pickup. Could these have been leftover stock or real late war when matching scabbards to bayonets did not matter?

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Scabbard throat

Could You provide the serial letter under number, there is cosmoline. The blanko scabbard was probably a replacement or was missmatched by the Vet.

Andy,

Jeff wrote to me that he's having GD log in troubles. I'm informed the block number for the bayonet in question is "j". I'll be happy to post any more of Jeff's responses if you have any additional questions.

Thanks for sending details, it looks like normal j range production.There is no report of other blanko scabbard within j range.

How can the frog be **unused** in the poor condition shown in pics? this frog is worn out!

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Originally posted by marksmilitaria in Cleveland:
How can the frog be **unused** in the poor condition shown in pics? this frog is worn out!

Like what was said, from storage. Doesn't appear worn out to me at all. Overall the frog retains great shape, doesn't appear to have been worn, with only some surface areas where it had some slight dry rot causing the surface to flake.

nice piece!!! without the "jacobi test" will be hard to determine if it left the factory this way???

Hi Gents - I am back on line (hat tip to Vern).

May not show in the photos, but that frog was not used. Look at the back side where it is normally in contact with the body or spade.

This was literally pulled straight out of footlocker before I bought it from his family. If the blank scabbard, frog and Bayonet were married together post-factory, it was done before he shipped it home from Germany.

John - You are welcome to do any test you wish. The Cosmoline stuck to inside of scabbard and bayonet was a good indicator to me

jeff the scabbard leaves a "fingerprint" so to say on the crossguard that meets the throat sleeve. if no other marks are on the crossguard that touches the scabbard there then it came out of the factory that way....you have to put oil on the scabbard throat lip and push together...the oil will be left on the areas that had blueing worn off... easier to do then explain.. oil sits on blued area then not likely factory.

John - Shoot me an email or call sometime, we need to catch up.

I did not need to do the "oil" test, the 65 year old Cosmoline did it for me. Hopefully, this will give you the information you seek.

Looks like a "match" to me.

Here is the other side which gives a better shot of crossguard - scabbard throat match. Good old Cosmoline.

Hi All - Any thoughts on this? Looks like a perfect match to me.

Thanks!