Original Item. Only One Available. This is a very good German private-purchase dress or “walking-out” bayonet by Carl Eickhorn of Solingen, complete with its original black enameled scabbard, black leather dress frog, and green-and-silver NCO Troddel. This is the approximately 10” “long” blade version and is particularly interesting for its unusual nickel-plated sawback blade.

Dress bayonets of this general type were privately purchased by enlisted personnel and NCOs for walking-out, parade, and other dress occasions. They followed the general appearance of contemporary service bayonets but were finished to a substantially higher decorative standard, normally with nickel-plated blades and hilts, black grip scales, and black finished scabbards.

This Heer (Army) example is in very good service used condition throughout, and is the 10-inch blade "long" version with a very rare to find sawback style blade, which is nickel plated. It comes complete with its original black enameled scabbard, black leather dress frog, and an NCO troddel knot. The nickel plating on the steel hilt is still in good shape, retained at around 95%, showing some very minor areas of plating loss and subsequent oxidation. The grip plates are the checkered black Bakelite type, in very good condition and retained by nickel plated steel rivets with dressed obverse heads, which show plating loss and oxidation. There is some chipping to the bakelite on one side The hilt features a working bayonet catch, with the red felt insert still intact.

The nickel-plated steel blade is still in very good condition, showing light wear and oxidation from age and use. It has however been sharpened on the main edge, possibly several times, and looks to have seen use during the war. The sawback spine is still quite sharp, with no signs of use, so it should be handled with care. The original brown leather blade buffer is still present against the crossguard.

The reverse ricasso is stamped with the Carl Eickhorn "Two Squirrel" trademark over C.E., for manufacture by the legendary firm of Carl Eickhorn, located in Solingen, the "City of Blades" in Western Germany. Per J. Anthony Carter's book GERMAN KNIFE AND SWORD MAKERS, this specific version of the mark was used on swords, "walking out" bayonets, and other similar items after 1906. This is exactly the mark that should be on an interwar Blade. This company was founded in 1865 by Carl Eickhorn, and is arguably the most famous of all Solingen makers. Not only could the family trace their history back 500 years, but they could also demonstrate involvement in the hardening and grinding industries for the same period. Truly the nobility of Solingen Edged weapon dynasties. Eickhorn edged weapons are the most desirable of all makers.

The scabbard is quite nice and still has about 85% of the original black enamel paint, with some scratching and chips through the enamel scattered throughout. There are no dents we can see or feel, and the remaining finish shows a lovely pattern of checking and crazing. The body is held by the included black leather frog, which is in very good lightly used condition, showing some dirt and stains on the exterior, and is a later style with steel rivets and a securing strap which is functional. Wrapped around it is an NCO troddel knot, with a green fabric strap with lines of silver metal thread. The end knot is silver bullion, with a green insert in the end. It is in good shape overall.

Green-and-silver Troddeln of this type are associated with NCO wear in the Reichswehr and Wehrmacht Heer and were used with dress and walking-out bayonets as a visible indication of rank.

The combination of the early Carl Eickhorn double-squirrel mark, unusually configured sawback blade, retained red felt insert, black enamel scabbard, dress frog, and NCO Troddel makes this an especially interesting private-purchase German sidearm. The sharpened main edge, light blade oxidation, chipped Bakelite, localized plating loss, and service wear are important condition factors, while the saw teeth, working catch, leather buffer, and complete suspension equipment remain notably well preserved.

Specifications:
Blade Length: 10"
Blade Style: Single Edge w/ Fuller
Overall length: 15 1/8“
Crossguard: 2 3/8”
Scabbard Length: 11"