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 black checkered 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.

This Heer (Army) example is in very good condition. It has a nice alloy "bird's head" shaped hilt, with much of the Nickel Plating intact, though there are some pinpricks and oxidation present, as shown. The mortise button and blade release present, however the button is quite short, and they do not appear to be intended for use. The original red felt insert in the slot is present and in very good condition. The grip plates are the black checkered bakelite type, and both are in great condition. They are retained by nickel-plated steel slot-less screws with split nuts on the reverse.

The blade is a fine nickel-plated example, and is in very good condition, still retaining the original leather blade buffer/washer. The blade is straight and unsharpened, with the nickel plating in great shape, showing no flaking or oxidation. There is runner wear present, particularly on the first 2-3 inches on the tip area, but there is no wear through to the base metal. Really a fantastic blade!

The blade of this excellent example is marked on the ricasso with the AESCULAP trademark logo, an "S-form" serpent coiled around a ball-headed staff, the "Rod of Aesculapius", the Greek God of medicine, under a crown:

The other side has the complete "three-line" address marking of the company:

AESCULAP-WERKE
JETTER & SCHEERER
TUTTLINGEN

These are the markings of Aesculap-Werke AG of Tuttlingen in Württemberg, a company that still exists today as a major maker of surgical instruments. Per J. Anthony Carter's book GERMAN KNIFE AND SWORD MAKERS, this firm was originally founded by Gottfried Jetter in 1867, and in 1887 he partnered with the Scheerer brothers to form Jetter & Scheerer. By 1895, they recognized the limitations of a family business, and formally incorporated. They built a new factory and registered the trademark Aesculap. For dress blades and "walking-out" bayonets, the company used the "three-line" marking on one side of the blade with the trademark on the other, as with this example.

The steel scabbard is straight throughout, showing no denting, and is in excellent condition, especially considering the age. It is a blued steel example, which we rarely see, and the bluing is retained at nearly 100%! There is just a bit of wear around the ball on the bottom. The scabbard is held in a very nice brown leather belt frog, which looks to be a dress version, without the reinforcement rivets or securing strap. It is in good condition, but does show age and wear, with the stitching on the scabbard retaining having pulled out at the top. There is a very nice blue and red troddel knot tied around the frog, which is made from fabric and leather.

An excellent example of a German 98k Heer dress bayonet by a rare maker. Complete with belt, frog, and troddel knot, this bayonet is ready to display!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 9 3/4"
Blade Style: Single Edge w/ Fuller
Overall length: 14 1/2“
Crossguard: 2 1/4”
Scabbard Length: 12 1/4"