Item Description
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 troddle, and the color would indicate the branch or rank.
This great Heer (army) example is in excellent condition, and has a nickel plated blade, as all dress bayonets do. It has a nice alloy hilt, with most of the Nickel Plating intact, showing a lovely lightly oxidized patina. There is just a bit of flaking on the sides and by the grip scales. The mortise button and blade release are fully functional, and the green felt insert is present. The grip plates are both lovely stag horn, with fantastic grain, and both are in great condition. They are retained by plated steel rivets dressed on the reverse.
The blade on this example is nickel-plated, as were all dress bayonets. It is in excellent condition, aside from runner wear, as the scabbard runners are still tight on the blade. It has not been sharpened, and still retains its blunt factory edge. The original black leather blade buffer is in place, and is in very nice condition.
The reverse ricasso bears a stamped puma's head in a diamond above PUMA over SOLINGEN, the trademark logo of Lauterjung & Sohn, Puma-Stahlwarenfabrik / Puma - Werk of Solingen, Germany, the legendary "City of Blades". This company was originally founded on a small scale in 1796, Nathanael Lauterjung officially opened a cutlery and knife making workshop in Solingen during 1855. After his death, the name was changed and registered as "Puma-Werk", to avoid confusion with the other Lauterjung-owned workshops in Solingen. For more information, please see J. Anthony Carter's work GERMAN KNIFE AND SWORD MAKERS.
The scabbard is straight throughout, showing no dents or bends that we can feel or see. The black enamel paint is still in very good condition with only a bit of chipping, and no major wear. It does look like it may have been re-finished during the WWII period, and since then has received just a bit of wear. There is some crazing and speckling, so it was definitely refinished a long time ago. The brown leather frog is in very good condition, with some light cracking to the finish, and is constructed using brass rivets.
A great example of a German short 98k dress bayonet by a desirable maker with staghorn grips, complete with scabbard and frog. Ready to display!
Specifications:
Blade Length: 7 7/8"
Blade Style: Single Edge w/ Fuller
Overall length: 12 5/8“
Crossguard: 2 1/4”
Scabbard Length: 8 3/4"
- This product is available for international shipping. Shipping not available to: Australia, France, or Germany
- Due to legal restrictions this item cannot be shipped to Australia, France or Germany. This is not a comprehensive list and other countries may be added in the future.
- Not eligible for payment with Paypal or Amazon