Billy, The photo is not as good as I would like and it could be as you say. But on the other hand, the scabbard to me is not like a solid even colored black enamel paint, and the grip plates look to be wood versus checkered plastic. So a better copy of the image might help? Having at least one or two most likely earlier SS-VT photos of them with WW I bayonets, and another I believe early SS-VT photo (that I will have to search for) of the S. 84/98 that looks like it might have a bright hilt instead of the usual German Army blued type. With the one here seeming to have a brighter hilt along with a somewhat worn blued (?) scabbard. With Best Regards, Fred