Seitengewehr 42
The Seitengewehr 42, "Seitengewehr Modell 42" or SG 42 was developed in 1942 by the Wilhelm Gustloff Werke and manufactured by Carl Eickhorn in Solingen. According to its description, the Gustloff Company and its chief designer, Carl Barnitzke, got a German patent 766198 in October 1942 for an "Armeemesser" (Army knife) according to its description. The SG 42 was intended to supplement and later replace the original S84/98 III bayonet of the Karabiner 98k service rifle. The "Seitengewehr 42" was designed as a multi-tool combat knife, but could also be mounted as a bayonet on the Karabiner  98k. The S84/98 III bayonet itself was a proven design, but there was a shortage of utility knives in the German military, which was usually procured privately. After the consistently positive reception of several hundred pieces in the 1943 troops trials, the production was approved by Adolf Hitler, but this should take place because of the cost of a conversion of production until after the war. In 1944, an order for 10,000 pieces was issued by the "Heereswaffenamt" (Army Weapons Office). Factory production was started, but due to the end of the war, Factories delivered only a small number. SG  42's were manufactured by Waffenfabrik Carl Eickhorn in Solingen and toolkits by Robert Klaas of Solingen. Technical specifications. Production largely made the SG 42 from stamped sheet metal parts. The handle scales and sheath are inexpensive and quickly produced, molded phenolic resin parts. The blade length was , the total length was ( with sheath). The blade had a fullerThe knife contained a detachable toolkit in the handle that individuals could use for rifle maintenance and other tasks. The toolkit included a screwdriver, small knife, awl, and a corkscrew. The protective bracket of the handle served as a cartridge case extractor . Analogous to the development of this knife bayonet after WW II, a worldwide development of the bayonet as a mere cutting and stabbing weapon to the plantable utility knife (saw, wire cutter) started. The Sudanese bayonet for the post WW II ArmaLite AR-10 battle rifle was an adaptation of the SG 42 with only slight alterations.