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 troddel, and the color would indicate the branch or rank.

This lovely single etched Heer (army) example is in very good condition, and has a nickel plated blade, as all dress bayonets do. It has a nice alloy hilt, with the Nickel Plating mostly intact, showing light overall specking and a bit of plating lifting. The mortise button and blade release are still present, but currently seized, and due to the relatively weak alloy we made no attempt to force them. The channel is still in great shape, though the felt insert is missing. The grip plates are lovely checkered black bakelite, and are in excellent condition. They are retained by plated steel rivets dressed on the reverse, which now have lost their plating and oxidized.

The blade on this example is nickel-plated, as were all dress bayonets, and there is only some light oxidation, as well as wear from the runners in the scabbard. It has not been sharpened, and still retains its blunt factory edge, with a few small dents on the edge. The original leather blade buffer is in place, and is in excellent condition.

The etched panel on the right side has some lovely designs inside a border, with "closed-wing" Wehrmachtadler Eagles on both ends of the panel. The centerpiece of the right panel is a nice double line banner design, with oak leaf clusters in the background. In the banner of the panel is a lovely German black letter type face inscription:

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

The rear ricasso of the blade is stamped with the 1935-41 Eickhorn trademark: a seated squirrel holding a sword, with the word ORIGINAL above and the firm's name and location, Eickhorn / SOLINGEN below. Carl Eickhorn is a legendary maker from Solingen, the famous "City of Blades" in Western Germany. According to J. Anthony Carter's book, GERMAN KNIFE AND SWORD MAKERS, 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 in great shape, straight throughout with no dents that we can feel or see. The original black enamel finish is very well retained at over 90%, with some scratching and chipping from use. There is some lovely age related crazing and checking in the finish, only possible after decades.

An great example of an etched German long 98k dress bayonet by the most desirable of all Solingen makers, complete with scabbard and ready to display!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 9 3/4"
Blade Style: Single Edge w/ Fuller
Overall length: 14 1/2“
Crossguard: 2 1/8”
Scabbard Length: 10 7/8"