Original German WWII 1939 dated 98k Bayonet by E. & F. Hörster with Scabbard & Frog - Matching Serial 9446 e US Civil War Infantry Regiment lost during service

Infantry Regiment lost during service 2 Officers and 29 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded

so it is possible that the latch was swapped at at arsenal long ago

matching the canister and mask

That's the answer

with an oilcloth sweatband and orange "service cloth" interior lining

Original German WWII 1939 dated 98k Bayonet by E. & F. Hörster with Scabbard & Frog - Matching Serial 9446 e US Civil War Infantry Regiment lost during serviceOriginal Item: Only One Available. In 1935 the German military introduced the K98k bolt action rifle or Karabiner 98 Kurz, as a replacement for the older GEW98 or Gewehr 98. A new, shorter bayonet was designed to go along with the shortened rifle. The K98 bayonet was officially named Seitengewehr 84 98 III or SG 84 98 III. The bayonet was designed as a close combat sidearm that could be placed on the tip of a K98. The total length of the K98 bayonet