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The Cameroon Schutztruppe were
initially issued S71/84 bayonets.
These were gradually being replaced with kS98 bayonets as the Mauser 98 carbine
was introduced. The process of re-issue was not complete in all units
before the outbreak of the First World War.
As in East Africa, leather grips and scabbards rotted quickly
in the hot, damp climate of Cameroon. Bayonets were sometimes locally
re-gripped before wooden and rubber gripped bayonets were issued. Likewise
leather scabbards were sometimes replaced by steel or captured ones.
The Germans in Cameroon resorted to
making their own ammunition and sometimes firearms due to shortages in
the First World War. Like the East Africans they may have also made
improvised bayonets although I have so far not seen any.
In Cameroon
far less enemy equipment was captured than in East Africa although at
least one
French Lebel 1886 bayonet has been reported in a private collection
with "Sch.K" markings.
The bayonets of the Cameroon Schutztruppe were
usually marked "Sch.K" (or sometimes "SCH.K." or
simply "S.K") for "Schutztruppe
Kamerun". A two, three or four figure weapon number then usually
followed.
It seems from surviving examples that field company numbers
were not standard on all bayonets but were used on some (for example "S.K.7. 126"
for the 7th company, weapon number 126 noted on a kS98 bayonet).
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