{"product_id":"original-german-wwii-heer-army-single-etched-long-98k-dress-bayonet-with-scabbard-and-black-leather-frog-1","title":"Original German WWII Heer Army Single Etched Long 98k Dress Bayonet with Scabbard and Black Leather Frog","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is an original German WWII Heer Army long pattern 98k dress bayonet with a single etched commemorative blade panel, complete with its original black painted scabbard and black leather frog. The bayonet retains over 90% of the nickel plating on the hilt, excellent black bakelite grip plates, its red felt mortise insert, an intact bayonet release, and a very well preserved etched nickel plated blade.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEnlisted 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, \u003cem\u003eZur Erinnerung an meine Dienstzeit\u003c\/em\u003e (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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis \u003cem\u003eHeer \u003c\/em\u003e(Army) example is in very good condition, and has a nickel plated blade, as most dress bayonets do, though in this case it also has an etched commemorative panel. It has has a \"bird's head\" alloy hilt, still retaining over 90% of the original plating. There are no areas of major oxidation present, just some flaking on the reverse of the pommel. The mortise button and blade release are present but seized, and the red felt insert is still present as well. 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 light oxidation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe blade on this example is nickel-plated, and the plating is still very well retained at over 90%, showing some light overall oxidation and small areas of pin pricking. There is some scuffing and scratching from cleaning, as well as runner wear on the raised areas of the blade. We do not see any signs of sharpening, and the edge is correctly blunt.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe etched panel itself has some lovely designs, with a \"Spread wing\" \u003cem\u003eWehrmachtadler\u003c\/em\u003e Eagle to the left, and a German WW2 Heer Stahlhelm helmet over some oak leaf sprigs on the right. The panel has a nice decorative line border with some ornamentations at the end, and there are additional oak leaf and acorn designs on either side of the German black letter type face inscription:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ccenter\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eZur Erinnerung an meine Dienstzeit\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/center\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis translates to \u003cem\u003e\"As a reminder of my service\"\u003c\/em\u003e, 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe scabbard is straight throughout, showing a few small dents on the front and rear, which do not interfere with sheathing the blade. The original black enamel finish is very well retained on both sides, and shows know signs of having been refinished. The scabbard is held in a very nice black leather frog, which still has the finish well retained, as well as the stitching. It is a military style with steel rivets at the edge of the belt loop and scabbard holder.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith its long pattern blade, single commemorative etch, strong nickel plating, intact bayonet release, surviving red felt insert, excellent bakelite grips, original black enamel scabbard, and complete black leather frog, this is a strong example of a Heer 98k dress bayonet. The seized bayonet release, minor pommel plating loss, oxidized grip rivets, light blade staining, cleaning scratches, runner wear, and small scabbard dents are all fully disclosed. It would fit especially well in a Heer dress bayonet, etched German blade, 98k accessory, or advanced WWII edged weapon collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBlade Length: 9 7\/8\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBlade Style: Single Edge w\/ Fuller\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOverall length: 14 5\/8“\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCrossguard: 2 1\/4”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eScabbard Length: 10 1\/2\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45750473621573,"sku":"ONJR26JYHG007","price":595.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/82BD481D-9F58-4419-BD83-02AEBCD75370.jpg?v=1789402035","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-german-wwii-heer-army-single-etched-long-98k-dress-bayonet-with-scabbard-and-black-leather-frog-1","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}