Original Item: Only One Available. The K-98 dress bayonet was a dress version of the combat style, and was worn by enlisted and NCO personnel for dress and parade occasions. The bayonets were finished with a high-quality nickel plating, with stag or bakelite grip plates and black painted scabbard. The choice of blade length was left to the purchaser, either the nickel-plated short (20cm) or long (25cm) version. There was usually a red or green colored felt insert in the rifle slot and the bayonet was suspended from a black or brown leather frog. Some had a functional bayonet latch, while it was ornamental on some. Often they would also have a sword knot, or troddle, and the color would indicate the branch or rank.

Enlisted or NCO personnel were permitted to purchase K-98 dress bayonets with fancy etched blades. These etchings run the gamut from simple designs featuring the standard remembrance, Zur Erinnerung an meine Dienstzeit (In Memory of My Service Time), to very fancy, custom etched depictions, citing the individual's regiment, unit, and sometimes even his name. Many blade factories offered unique etch patterns. The etch work was often state of the art.

This lovely Heer (army) example is in very good condition, and has a nickel plated blade, as all dress bayonets do. It has has a nice alloy hilt, with most of the Nickel Plating intact, though there is some light wear and oxidation, as shown. The mortise button and blade release are fully functional, though a bit stiff due to oxidation of the plating, and the red felt insert is present, though it has suffered moth damage. The grip plates are both lovely genuine stag horn, and both are in great condition. They are retained by plated steel rivets, which are dressed on the reverse, and now missing most of the plating.

The blade on this example is nickel-plated, as were all dress bayonets, and it does show some plating flaking and oxidation to the blade. This is particularly evident on the spine and area near the cross guard. It has not been sharpened, and still retains its blunt factory edge. The original black leather blade buffer is in place, and is in very nice condition. 

The etched panel itself has some lovely designs, with a large spread winged Wehrmachtadler Eagle to the center, and iconic German Oak Leaf and acorn borders. In the center of the panel is a lovely German black letter type face inscription:

This translates to "Reminder of my service", which is a very common inscription for these dress bayonets.

The reverse ricasso is stamped with the Paul Seilheimer trademark logo with a "sword piercing a triangle":

P. (Sword Handle) S.
SOLINGEN

Paul Seilheimer, Waffenfabrik was located in the Solingen - Wald area, and was founded in 1917. The "Sword Piercing a Triangle" mark was specifically used on "walking out" bayonets and dress swords during the WWII Period, per J. Anthony Carter's work GERMAN KNIFE AND SWORD MAKERS. The company continued operation until 1970, though members of the family are still involved in Solingen industry to this day.

The scabbard is straight throughout, however it has lost almost all of the original black enamel paint, now showing the steel base metal, which actually shows less oxidation than one might expect. There is staining and rust in areas, but overall it retains much of the bright steel look. Attached to the scabbard is a nice leather frog, which looks to be a combat frog in very good service used condition. It has later war steel rivets, and there is an RBNr. on the back. The leather is still solid, though it does show wear.

An very nice example of an German etched stag handle Long 98k dress bayonet by a well-known maker, complete with scabbard and frog, ready to display!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 9 3/4"
Blade Style: Single Edge w/ Fuller
Overall length: 14 5/8“
Crossguard: 2 1/4”
Scabbard Length: 10 1/2"