rldarmstr Posted February 7, 2010 Share #1 Posted February 7, 2010 Can anyone tell me; is there a usefull purpose for the sawback design on some bayonets other than just being a really ugly way to stick someone? I always assume that this was the case. Then, a while back I had soemone tell me that they were designed that way as a survivalist aid, to actually saw something with it. Sicne I question the source of this knowledge I thought I would ask here. Thanks, Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AustinO Posted February 7, 2010 Share #2 Posted February 7, 2010 Can anyone tell me; is there a usefull purpose for the sawback design on some bayonets other than just being a really ugly way to stick someone? I always assume that this was the case. Then, a while back I had soemone tell me that they were designed that way as a survivalist aid, to actually saw something with it. Sicne I question the source of this knowledge I thought I would ask here. Thanks, Robert Sawback bayonets are just that, impromptu saws. Developed to aid troops in more constructive uses (removing felled timber, building defenses, etc.) Their brutal use has always been more of a publishers hype kind of thing... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bayonetman Posted February 7, 2010 Share #3 Posted February 7, 2010 Although there have been different reasons over the years, the prime purpose was for "engineers" to use to cut wood such as small trees or saplings to clear fields of fire. Also to cut wood to construct obstructions or to conceal positions. During early WW1 they were used to cut posts to erect barbed wire (or to cut the posts off during an attack, not something I would like to try!), but later they went to metal posts. WW1 German sawbacks, and their Swiss contemporaries were amazingly good at cutting wood, better than most conventional saws. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad1 Posted February 8, 2010 Share #4 Posted February 8, 2010 If memory serves me correct the Swiss Model was noted as Model 1914 Engineers bayonet for the Schmidt-Rubin Carbine, issued to engineers for wood cutting and construction purposes. Also seem to remember that at some time it's use was covered in one of the military conventions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panzer 3 Posted February 16, 2010 Share #5 Posted February 16, 2010 Hi Robert, I picked up a nice first war german mauser saw back butcher bayonet on Sun, with the scabbard, it is in good condition but needed a good clean. Most of the saw backs have been ground down as the saw backs was a lethal thing, but this one escaped that. It has 13 L V, on the quillian but im not sure what unit it was so will research it, with the bayonet i got a nice luftwaffe eagle solid brass, and a day badge of a mortar, made by Schlosse. I got these in a swop for two french grenades. so not a bad find. Dave. I would show them but it is a U.S, forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOLO Posted February 16, 2010 Share #6 Posted February 16, 2010 I agree, saw back designed bayonets were made primarily as a tool, not to make them more lethal actually I think a sawback would be a bad idea in a fight because it could get stuck or make it hard to pull back out quickly a smooth bayonet would work better than one with a serrated edge for actual fighting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawkdriver Posted February 16, 2010 Share #7 Posted February 16, 2010 If you were wanting to really hack away at someone, it wasn't a saw toothed bayo, but the handy E-tool that did the job most of the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunner Posted February 17, 2010 Share #8 Posted February 17, 2010 does anyone have any pictures of sawback bayonets from the korean war time period? my family has always talked about my grandfathers bayonet that had a saw back, ive always wanted to get one but never could fin any information.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunbarrel Posted February 17, 2010 Share #9 Posted February 17, 2010 does anyone have any pictures of sawback bayonets from the korean war time period? my family has always talked about my grandfathers bayonet that had a saw back, ive always wanted to get one but never could fin any information.. It would not have been US issue... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunner Posted February 17, 2010 Share #10 Posted February 17, 2010 It would not have been US issue... do you off the top of your head happen to know of any korean bayonets that had the saw back for that time period? im trying to make a display to honor him and that would be a key piece Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunbarrel Posted February 17, 2010 Share #11 Posted February 17, 2010 do you off the top of your head happen to know of any korean bayonets that had the saw back for that time period? im trying to make a display to honor him and that would be a key piece To my knowledge no such animal exists. I'm sorry. Sometimes stories get changed over time; not embellished on purpose, but it just happens. Korea was under Japanese rule from 1910-1945; my understanding is that during the Korean War the South Koreans used Type T30 Japanese bayonets fitted to Japanese Type 38 and Type 99 rifles, and M4 and M5 US bayonets on M1 carbines and Garands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKIPH Posted February 17, 2010 Share #12 Posted February 17, 2010 North Koreans had a lot of Soviet weapons to include captured German weaponry. The probabilitly that they were from both WW1 and WW2, could be high. Plus China had M88 Mausers, probably M95's too. So why not have a few sawback bayonets.They'd make a great sword, til you picked up the guy's rifle who was shot in front of you in a human wave assault. Just my thoughts. SKIP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cwnorma Posted February 18, 2010 Share #13 Posted February 18, 2010 To keep this on track (and within forum rules) didn't the US "Phrobis" bayonet have a sawback? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunbarrel Posted February 18, 2010 Share #14 Posted February 18, 2010 North Koreans had a lot of Soviet weapons to include captured German weaponry. The probabilitly that they were from both WW1 and WW2, could be high. Plus China had M88 Mausers, probably M95's too. So why not have a few sawback bayonets.They'd make a great sword, til you picked up the guy's rifle who was shot in front of you in a human wave assault. Just my thoughts. SKIP Oh, well, in that case let's assume that it's a German 98/05 “Butcher Blade” bayonet like this one, which belonged to a Red Chinese, who got it from the Soviet soldier, who got it from a German in WWII: http://cgi.ebay.com/Sawback-Butcher-Mauser...emZ250577460058 When the Chicom, dropped it, somehow Gunner's Grandfather ended up with it. You can read about German Butcher Bayonets here: http://www.seitengewehr.com/Fachzeitschrif...-blade-bayonet/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunbarrel Posted February 18, 2010 Share #15 Posted February 18, 2010 To keep this on track (and within forum rules) didn't the US "Phrobis" bayonet have a sawback? I believe all M9 bayonets have a sawback... http://www.m9bayonet.com/buck-phrobis-m9.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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