Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original German WWII Heer Army long pattern 98k dress bayonet with a single etched blade, black Bakelite grip plates, original red felt mortise insert, black enamel scabbard, and black leather dress frog. It is the longer 25cm pattern and retains a functional mortise button and bayonet release.

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.

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 most dress bayonets do. It has has a "bird's head" alloy hilt, with almost all of the nickel plating worn away, though there is no major oxidation present. Just a bit on the reverse of the cross guard from contact with the leather frog. The mortise button and blade release are present and fully functional, and the red felt insert is still present. The grip plates are checkered black bakelite, and are in excellent condition, with crisp checkering and no cracks or chunks missing. They are retained by plated steel dome-headed rivets dressed on the reverse, which have lost the plating and now show oxidation.

The blade on this example is nickel-plated, as were all dress bayonets, the plating is relatively well retained, probably at about 90% There is some scuffing and scratching from cleaning, and there are also some areas of plating loss on the raised areas of the blade, as well as on the edge area near the tip. This has allowed some light oxidation to take hole. We do not see any signs of sharpening, and the edge is correctly blunt.

The etched panel itself has some lovely designs, surrounded by "Wotan's Knot" motifs, with a large spread wing Wehrmachtadler Eagle in the center. Below the wings of the eagle flanking the wreathed swas 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. There is no maker mark on the blade, which is not uncommon, as unmarked blade blanks were often purchased in bulk by retailers, who would have them etched, plated, and fitted to order.

The scabbard is straight throughout, without any major dents or other issues. The original black enamel finish is very well retained on both sides, and shows know signs of having been refinished. There is some checking and crazing on both sides, with a bit of oxidation spotting, but no major flaking of the finish. The scabbard is held in a very nice black leather dress belt frog, which still has the finish well retained, as well as the stitching. There are no rivets, correct for a dress pattern.

With its long blade configuration, single service remembrance etch, functional bayonet latch, surviving red felt insert, excellent Bakelite grips, well preserved black enamel scabbard, and complete leather frog, this is an attractive Heer dress bayonet ensemble. The extensive nickel loss to the hilt, oxidized grip rivets, blade scuffing, localized plating loss, and minor scabbard oxidation are all fully disclosed. It would display especially well in a Heer edged weapon, etched dress bayonet, 98k accessory, or advanced German WWII militaria collection.

Specifications:
Blade Length: 9 7/8"
Blade Style: Single Edge w/ Fuller
Overall length: 14 5/8“
Crossguard: 2 1/4”
Scabbard Length: 10 1/2"