German M1884/98 bayonet.Third model made by: i (= ELITE-Diamant in 1941 only!. (ABCN455)(K143)(JN100-2)

Mauser M 84/98 carbine. Serial number: 2813 over i on the ricasso. Excellent+ fullered blued blade. German maker's letter code: i  (= ELITE-Diamant in 1941 only ) on ricasso. Date: '41 on the blade spine. Excellent blued pommel and crossguard. Two Waffenambt stamps on the pommel. Excellent wooden grips, secured to the blade by two screw bolts. 
Excellent blued steel scabbard with no dents. It is also marked: i over '41 (= ELITE-Diamant 1941)  and with a no matching serial number: 8685

In 1937 only the first production run of approx.< 30.000 bayonets from this company were marked: Diamant only. The same year this company was taken over by ELITE and the name was changed into: ELITE-Diamant and from than on marked: ELITE-Diamant. 
This very rare example is crisp solo marked: Diamant on the ricasso. So Diamant only and not ELITE-Diamant. 

NOTE:
The second German made M1884/98 bayonet model from 1934 on, was first marked with a secret (S/) code. This code were replaced in 1937-40/41 when manufacturers name was used with the date on the blade spine. These codes were replaced again in 1940 when another new letter code was introduced.. 

From 1934 the secret code of the company Diamant was: S/185. This secret code was replaced and used in 1937 only by the manufacturer name: Diamant. In 1938 it became: ELITE-Diamant. In 1941 only, the letter code of ELITE- Diamant was simply changed into : i 

This bayonet and scabbard are both very rarely marked: i over '41. The letter code of ELITE- Diamant which was used in the year 1941 only.!

Super rare and interesting marked bayonet! Seldom encountered.

New addition. Pictures will follow soon.