44 SGX GG Block with Screws

[luftpirate]

This sold on Ebay earlier tonight. I've never seen a GG Block with screws. I cant really tell from pictures if the screws are phosphate or of they are polished. The nuts look like they may be phosphate. Maybe someone removed the rivets and put screws in. The lug nut does look like its been turned or re-indexed at some point, could be nothing. Anyways very curious.

 

[pwcosol]

Welser reported in his Reichswehr & Wehrmacht Bayonets 1920-1945 book (2nd ed.) the following:
44sgx 8027gg phosphate finish typical red grips/riveted
44sgx 8180gg phosphate finish typical red grips/riveted
44sgx 9051gg blued finish typical red grips/screwbolts*
*# 0430gg also reported as blued finish w/typical grips/rivets

The piece in the OP's post certainly looks to be in superior condition. No mention of a scabbard (was there one?). I have attached photos of a Eickhorn/cof43 late armorer parts-built T3. Note the phosphate screwbolt and crude spanner nut which was never cleaned of flash or scale from manufacture. There does appear to be some amount of this residue on the forward spanner nut of the bayonet in question. Of course, anything could have happened at Horster and whatever components were still at hand utilized. The only other phosphate screwbolts I am aware of have been seen on 45crs bayonets.

 

[luftpirate]

Yeah there wasn't a scabbard unfortunately.

 

[AndyB]

Personally i dont like the grips screws heads are evidently polished, note the rest of blueing in slots, the spanner nuts are blued, left pommel side was too polished which is certainly strange, the phosphate on blade and crossguard looks ok to me. So not good probably. I believe they switched to rivets already in aa range.
The Reported pieces 8027 gg is by John J. old BCN forum chief, should be asked on Facebook BCN site
44sgx 9051gg blued finish typical red grips/screwbolts* are by me reported piece from Welser with rivets
0430gg also reported as blued finish w/typical grips/rivets is in reality 44asw not sgx
8088gg is reported with riveted red plastic

 

[Slash]

I agree with Andrej. Grip attachment is not pre-May 1945. The last bolt and spanner attachment by Hörster is observed in the aa block of 44asw. Approximately 65.000 pieces before this example. From the serial number studies:

8027gg matching with riveted grip and sharpened blade

9051gg matching with riveted grip

Use of riveted grips begins early in the 44asw aa block

There is a mixture of bolt/spanner and rivet grip construction for several thousand bayonets

No Hörster produced bolt and spanner bayonets are recorded after the 8000aa range

 

[pwcosol]

Excellent appraisals. Thought the appearance of the LS of the pommel might be from reflection/camera angle, but the later photo seems to rule this out.

 

[CanadianAR]

Screws are definitely polished white. Also the pommel as Andej. Prehaps that back side rusted real bad and the grip suffered that worn look.

 

[AndyB]

Hard to believe as the flashguard is total intact phosphate finish, note the pommel area were was started to polish, i assume he would proof got a same color for left side pommel and screws? Or he would polish the rough mashining surface which is normal by 44sgx.

 

[luftpirate]

I think maybe someone did scuff it down, at first I thought it might be lighting or reflection. It just seems rather odd so much of the original finish is untouched on the remainder and in excellent condition. The missing grind marks on the pommel over the catch is a red flag, those seem fairly consistent. Here is my 6600 Block GG.