As Found* WWII Matching Numbers Dated 1941 Africa Korps D.A.K. K98 Bayonet By ‘asw’ (E&F Horster Solingen) and Webbing Frog. 21848. Bayonets

DAK is an abbreviation for the Afrika Korps (German: Deutsches Afrikakorps), a famed German World War II unit. The German Africa Corps, commonly known as Afrika Korps, was the German expeditionary force in Africa during the North African campaign of World War II. First sent as a holding force to shore up the Italian defence of its African colonies, the formation fought on in Africa, under various appellations, from March 1941 until its surrender in May 1943. The unit's best-known commander was Field Marshal Erwin Rommel. The Afrika Korps formed on 11 January 1941 and one of Adolf Hitler's favourite generals, Erwin Rommel, was designated as commander on 11 February. Originally Hans von Funck was to have commanded it, but Hitler loathed von Funck, as he had been a personal staff officer of Werner von Fritsch until von Fritsch was dismissed in 1938. The Seitengewehr 84/98 was the most widely issued German bayonet of the Second World War. It was used in conjunction with the Karabiner 98k rifle. It was a development of a design which had first been introduced before the First World War, for use by machine-gunners and cyclists. Initially these bayonets were produced by modifying obsolete Model 71/84 bayonets. However, during the First World War production of new S84/98 bayonets took place, as they were simple to manufacture and used less metal than the standard S98 bayonet. The adoption of the K98k rifle in 1934 prompted the manufacture of quantities of an improved S84/98. Stamped to the ricasso with ’41asw’ (manufacture date 1941 by E&F Horster Solingen) & ‘a1862’. The grips are undamaged, as is the blade. The metal scabbard is numbered ‘1862’ and has a waffenampt stamp. The webbing frog is stamped to the rear. The stitching and stud are intact. The price for this scarce matching numbers set includes UK delivery. 21848.