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, being 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 troddle, 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 is a very good service used example, made by Richard Abr. Herder, a well-regarded and desirable Solingen maker. The bayonet is in very good condition, and comes complete with the original steel scabbard. The bayonet has a has a very nice custom etched nickel plated blade. It also has has a nice alloy hilt, which still has over 80% of the original nickel plating, and a fully functional mortise button and lug channel, though the felt insert is missing. There is some age to the plating and wear on the edges, but it still presents very nicely. The grip plates are both lovely checkered black bakelite, and both are in very good condition. They are retained by plated steel rivets, which have dressed heads on the obverse, and show only light wear.

The blade on this example is nickel-plated, as were all dress bayonets. They were made with blunt blades at the factory, and usually left that way, as sharpening would remove the plating and use would mar the blade, however this example looks to have been put into service during the war. The edge was sharpened, and it definitely looks to have seen a good amount of use. There is a slight bend to the last 1/2" of the blade, and there is also some damage to the tip.

The etched panel itself is however still present, and has some lovely Oak Leaf and Acorn designs, surrounded by floral motif borders, with a large open-wing Wehrmachtadler Eagle in the center,. This is surrounded on the bottom by 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 ricasso of the blade on this example is marked with the two line address logo of Richard Abraham Herder AG, Stahlwarenfabrik (Steelware Factory) of Solingen, the legendary "City of Blades" in Western Germany. This marking has the address in two lines to the right of their "four pointed star diamond" logo:

RICH. ABR. HERDER
SOLINGEN

The Herder name is well known in Solingen, and this branch originally registered in 1884 as a steelware maker. As time went on they specialized in Drop Forging, and supplied blade blanks to Erfurt Arsenal and other companies. During the Third Reich period, they continued to make their own edged weapons, as well as supply blades to smaller makers. The earlier "double line" trademark had been registered in 1897 and used on WW1 98/05 bayonets, and was specifically used on early production dress bayonets such as this example, per J. Anthony Carter's work GERMAN KNIFE AND SWORD MAKERS.

The steel scabbard is in very good shape, still straight with one shallow dent on the rear. the original black enamel finish is retained at about 75% overall, with a more missing on the reverse. There is also a good amount of crazing and checking to the remaining finish, confirming the age. It fits the blade well, and does not fall off.

A very nice service used example of an etched German Short 98k dress bayonet by a desirable Solingen maker, complete with scabbard. Ready to display!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 7 3/4"
Blade Style: Single Edge w/ Fuller
Overall length: 12 1/2“
Crossguard: 2 1/4”
Scabbard Length: 8 7/8"