Demag Crank handle bayonet, 6618 Sapper Victor Frederick Bird, 1 Tunneling Company, AIF

Crank handle trench bayonet and scabbard. 152mm double edged blade. Maker's logo for Deutshe Maschinenfabrik AG of Duisburg is stamped on the ricasso and DRGM (Deutsches Gebrauchsmuster, (German Empire Utility Design)) on the reverse, with an inspection mark on spine. Steel scabbard painted black, to which is rivetted a leather belt loop. The retaining strap is closed with a press-stud, on the face of which is stamped a snow-flake design. The cranked hand-grip is fabricated from two metal stampings, joined with four rivetts, and is painted with a gloss field grey/green. A hole in the handle is designed to allow the rifle's cleaning rod to pass through. Looped around the bayonet scabbard is a Troddel, with black strap with three rows of silver thread.

This weapon is a combination dagger and bayonet. Shorter than conventional sword bayonets, it was designed expressly for trench fighting, where longer bayonets were often an impediment. This example was collected by 6618 Sapper Victor Frederick Bird, 1 Tunneling Company, AIF.