The list of known frog manufacturers is too numerous. We recommend getting the book BAYONET BELT FROGS, by Anthony Carter. The new 168-page hardback edition includes the now out of print Parts I and II, plus a new Part III, with 589 belt frogs illustrated, and much new information, including an index to German manufacturers.
You can order BAYONET BELT FROGS from BCN member Anthony Carter.
His E-mail address is: tharstonpress@netmatters.co.uk,
or visit his website here.
1944 Manufacturers of German Bayonets and their Rarity
Listed below are the codes of the combat bayonet manufacturers in Germany in 1944.
Code Maker observed dates
agv Berg & Co., Solingen-Ohligs 41-44
asw E&F Horster, Solingen 40-44
bym Genossenshaft Mach, Ferlach-Karnten, Austria 41-44
can Aug. Wallmeyer, Eisenach-Thuringen 1944 scabbards only
clc Richard Abr. Herder, Solingen 41-44
cof Carl Eichorn, Solingen 41-45
cqh Clemen & Jung, Solingen 41-44
crs Paul Weyersberg & Co., Solingen 41-45
cul Ernst Pack & Sohne, Solingen 41-44
cvl WKC Waffenfabrik,Solingen-Wald 41-45
ddl Remsheider Hobelmesser, Remsheid 41-44
ffc Fredr. Abr. Herder Sohne, Solingen 41-44
fnj Alexander Coppel Gmbh, Solingen 41-44
fze F.W. Holler, Solingen 41-43
jwh Staatliche Waffenfabrik, Chatellerault, France 41-44
pyy Berg & Co., Solingen, 1944
sgx E&F Horster, Solingen 44-45
The purpose of the next table is to illustrate the various manufacturers that were producing bayonets at the end of the war, their codes, production, and rarity. Two methods were used to determine the distribution of production, 1) actual serial number submissions from collectors, and 2) serial number extensions based on the serial numbers found in those submissions. Over 350 different bayonets from 1944 have been recorded and we are continuing to learn more about the quantities produced. At different intervals, this table will be updated to provide the reader an accurate and up to date information. Footnotes will be located at the bottom of the table to help explain various points about the table.
Table One-Rarity Determined by Collector Submissions
|
Population |
Observed |
||
|
Rarity |
Maker |
Observed |
% in Population |
|
1 |
cqh |
4 |
1.14 |
|
2 |
agv |
6 |
1.71 |
|
3 |
ab |
8 |
2.28 |
|
4 |
ddl |
10 |
2.85 |
|
5* |
jwh |
10 |
2.85 |
|
6* |
pyy |
11 |
3.13 |
|
7 |
cul |
12 |
3.42 |
|
8 |
ffc |
12 |
3.42 |
|
9 |
bym |
15 |
4.27 |
|
10 |
fze |
19 |
5.41 |
|
11 |
clc |
20 |
5.70 |
|
12 |
cvl |
20 |
5.70 |
|
13 |
crs |
21 |
5.98 |
|
14 |
fnj |
26 |
7.41 |
|
15 |
cof |
28 |
7.98 |
|
16* |
asw rivet |
41 |
11.68 |
|
17* |
sgx rivet |
41 |
11.68 |
|
18 |
asw |
47 |
13.39 |
|
sum |
351 |
*It is speculated that because these bayonets are so widely sought by collectors that they appear in disproportionate numbers in the collections of our sources and their rarity is skewed. Please note the change when looking at the rarity by serial number extensions.
Table Two-Rarity Determined by Serial Number Extension of Collector Submissions
|
Observed |
Observed |
|||
|
Letter Block |
Serial Number |
% From |
||
|
Rarity |
Maker |
Range |
Extension |
Extension |
|
1(1) |
cqh |
a-b |
20136 |
1.13 |
|
2(5) |
jwh |
t-v |
25000 |
1.40 |
|
3(2) |
agv |
a-c |
34500 |
1.93 |
|
4(6) |
pyy |
d-f |
37000 |
2.07 |
|
5(4) |
ddl |
a-c |
40000 |
2.24 |
|
6(10) |
fze |
a-c |
47000 |
2.63 |
|
7(17) |
sgx rivet |
gg-kk |
50000 |
2.80 |
|
8(9) |
bym |
a-e |
53000 |
2.97 |
|
9(16) |
asw rivet |
aa-gg |
70000 |
3.92 |
|
10(8) |
ffc |
a-g |
74000 |
4.14 |
|
11(7) |
cul |
a-g |
75000 |
4.20 |
|
12(11) |
clc |
a-h |
90000 |
5.04 |
|
13(3) |
ab |
a-j |
100777 |
5.64 |
|
14(13) |
crs |
a-j |
105000 |
5.88 |
|
15(14) |
fnj |
a-o |
157000 |
8.79 |
|
16(12) |
cvl |
a-w |
230000 |
12.87 |
|
17(15) |
cof |
a-y |
250000 |
13.99 |
|
18(18) |
asw |
a-z |
260000 |
14.55 |
|
sum |
1718413 |
|||
Numbers in parentheses are rarities from table one as a comparison to table two. As you can see from this graph, the rarities start to line up once the collector factor is taken out of the picture. Several exceptions exist, but one of note is the case of maker ab who has a relatively high production as compared to pieces found in collections. This may be due to the availablity of the pieces to GI's as souvenirs. One might speculate that ab's production was distributed to German soldiers and not in warehouses at the end of the war. It is believed that many of the Solingen made pieces were picked up by GI's in warehouses in new condition at the end of the war rather than being taken in battle. Further research is needed to determine if that is true.
The information above was compiled by John Jacobi of the Bayonet Collector's Network (BCN) and that information was tabulated by Roger Adkins. All rights reserved. No part of this information may be extracted, reproduced, or reprinted without the express written permission of either John Jacobi or Roger Adkins of the BCN.