Brutal in form and fearsome in reputation, the German M1898/05 bayonet — often dubbed the “Butcher blade” — stands as one of the most iconic edged weapons of the First World War. This particular example, dated 1917 and manufactured by Alex Coppel of Solingen, was produced during the war’s later years, when close combat had become an all-too-common reality of trench warfare.

Originally designed to accompany the Gewehr 98 rifle, the M1898/05 was a response to the brutal demands of the battlefield. Its long, fullered blade — heavy and unflinching — earned it the nickname “Butcher” not from any ceremonial origin, but from its formidable profile: a cleaver-like spine and a sharply tapered point, capable of piercing through thick clothing, gear, and grit.

The 1917-dated Coppel variant features the correct maker’s mark and wartime acceptance stamps, a hallmark of Solingen’s renowned blade craftsmanship. The steel hilt and wooden grip panels remain robust, secured with original rivets, while the hooked quillon guard reflects the model’s early wartime configuration, before simplification in later years.

This bayonet carries not only steel and timber — but a weight of history. It evokes the grim, close-quarters combat of the Western Front, where rifles were often too long to fire and battle was reduced to inches. Whether used in trench raids, last stands, or brutal charges, the M1898/05 became a tool of survival.

A powerful addition to any WWI collection, this piece represents both the industrial might and grim reality of German infantry service in the Great War’s final, blood-soaked years.