{"product_id":"original-german-wwii-heer-single-etched-short-98k-dress-bayonet-by-carl-eickhorn-with-scabbard-and-brown-leather-frog","title":"Original German WWII Heer Single Etched Short 98k Dress Bayonet by Carl Eickhorn with Scabbard and Brown Leather Frog","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is an original German WWII Heer Army short pattern 98k dress bayonet by Carl Eickhorn of Solingen, complete with its black enamel scabbard and brown leather dress frog. It features a single etched service remembrance blade, green felt mortise insert, checkered black Bakelite grip plates, and the seated squirrel Eickhorn trademark used during the 1935-1941 period.\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 troddle, 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 Heer (army) example is in very good condition, and has a nickel plated blade, as most dress bayonets do. It has a zinc alloy hilt, with mostof the Nickel Plating intact, showing some loss in areas. There is plating loss and corrosion on the reverse due to long time contact with the leather frog, and due to this the mortise button and blade release are corrosion seized. The green felt insert is still present, showing no damage such as mothing. 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe blade is in very good shape, and is more of a \"knife\" design than the usual dress bayonet. It has a thin fuller on both sides, and there is a false edge on the spine side. We have seen this on short dress bayonets from several different makers. There is some minor finish bubbling on the ricasso, but no major loss or oxidation of the blade. The edge is correctly unsharpened and free of dents..\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe etched panel itself has some lovely designs, with horizontally oriented \"Closed Wing\" Heer \u003cem\u003eWehrmachtadler\u003c\/em\u003e eagles at both ends. In between these is a double row banner with oak leaf sprigs surrounding it, and the following German black letter type face inscription:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ccenter\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eZur Erinnerung\u003cbr\u003ean 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe reverse ricasso is stamped with the 1935-41 Eickhorn trademark: a seated squirrel holding a sword, with the word \u003cstrong\u003eORIGINAL\u003c\/strong\u003e above and the firm's name and location, \u003cstrong\u003eEickhorn \/ SOLINGEN\u003c\/strong\u003e below. Carl Eickhorn is a legendary maker from Solingen, the famous \"City of Blades\" in Western Germany. \u003c\/span\u003eAccording to J. Anthony Carter's book, \u003cem\u003eGERMAN KNIFE AND SWORD MAKERS\u003c\/em\u003e, 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. \u003cstrong\u003eEickhorn edged weapons are the most desirable of all makers.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe scabbard is straight throughout with no dents we can see, however the original black enamel paint finish is retained at about 60%, with the area under the bayonet frog showing finish loss and oxidation. The brown leather frog is a dress version without rivets, and looks to have degraded over time, which also damaged the scabbard and hilt. Some of the tanning products used on the leather are corrosive, and that seems to be so with this example. There is also some cracking and dry rot where the frog was in contact with the metal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith its short blade configuration, single service remembrance etch, 1935-1941 Eickhorn seated squirrel trademark, surviving green felt insert, excellent Bakelite grips, straight scabbard, and original brown leather dress frog, this is a well featured Heer dress bayonet ensemble. The seized mortise button, corrosion to the reverse hilt, oxidized grip rivets, localized blade finish bubbling, approximately 60% scabbard enamel, and dry cracked frog are all fully disclosed. It would display especially well in a Heer edged weapon, Carl Eickhorn, etched dress bayonet, 98k accessory, or advanced German WWII militaria collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBlade Length: 7 7\/8\"\u003cbr\u003eBlade Style: Single Edge w\/ Fuller\u003cbr\u003eOverall length: 12 5\/8“\u003cbr\u003eCrossguard: 2 1\/4”\u003cbr\u003eScabbard Length: 8 3\/4\"\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45665076772933,"sku":"ONJR26JYHG009","price":595.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/396F33FB-F8E4-4F6F-8D0A-7A54668E0B79.jpg?v=1788214405","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-german-wwii-heer-single-etched-short-98k-dress-bayonet-by-carl-eickhorn-with-scabbard-and-brown-leather-frog","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}