{"product_id":"original-german-wwii-metropolitan-police-long-dress-bayonet-by-alexander-coppel-with-scabbard-frog-matching-unit-markings","title":"Original German WWII Metropolitan Police Long Dress Bayonet by Alexander Coppel with Scabbard \u0026 Frog - Matching Unit Markings","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is a fantastic Matching Unit Marked Metropolitan Police Long Dress \"Walking Out\" Bayonet by \u003cem\u003eAlexander Coppel of Solingen\u003c\/em\u003e. It comes complete with its original nickel fitted black leather scabbard and a 1942-dated black leather frog. It features a beautiful Stag Handle, with an inlaid aluminum Civic Police emblem.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe pommel is a solid nickel plated alloy decorated \"Birds Head\" without a bayonet slot, and there is a unit marking on the reverse guard of the bayonet:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eS. Op. I. 380\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis indicates issue to the Metropolitan \u003cem\u003eSchutzpolizei\u003c\/em\u003e (Protection Police), however we have not been able to determine which city \"Op.\" stands for, and leave this as a nice research project. The same unit marking is stamped onto the back of the scabbard.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe bayonet has a lovely approximately 33 cm (12.75 inches) long nickel plated steel blade, which was forged \"cut-down\" style, with the fuller running to the tip. Blade is nice and bright, of excellent quality, and still has over 95% of the original nickel plating, with just a bit of wear through and oxidation speckling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe blade ricasso is maker marked \u003cb\u003eALEXANDER COPPEL \/ SOLINGEN\u003c\/b\u003e in arcs surrounding the firms trademark scales logo, with the firm's initials \u003cstrong\u003eACS\u003c\/strong\u003e interspersed. The same trademark scale logo, only larger, is present on the other side of the blade. This type of trademark was used on Police and other dress bayonets during the Weimar republic and up into the beginning of the NSDAP era, up until around 1940, per J. Anthony Carter's work \u003cem\u003eGERMAN KNIFE AND SWORD MAKERS\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAlexander Coppel \u0026amp; Co. KG, Stahlwarenfabrik\u003c\/em\u003e, was located in Solingen, the legendary German \"City of Blades.\" The company was a major manufacturer of edged weapons and tools from the end of the 19th century up until the WWII period. Unfortunately, as NSDAP-control increased, brothers Carl Gustav and Dr. Alexander Coppel, the Jewish owners of the firm, were forced out. In 1936 the firm had been \"Aryanized\", and started using the name ALCOSO to hide the Jewish family name. By the end of 1936 the brothers were ejected from their Solingen offices, and by 1940 the brand trademark initials ACS were changed to AWS to reflect the change in ownership and name: Alexander Coppel Solingen to Alcoso-Werk Solingen. Carl Gustav Coppel committed suicide in Solingen in 1941, and Dr. Alexander Coppel was arrested in 1942 and sent to Theresienstadt Prison camp, where he died August 5th 1942.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe leather washer is unfortunately not present. The bayonet grip scales are made of stag-horn with an aluminum police insignia firmly inset on one side. These are held by aluminum rivets between the upswept cross guard decorated with oak leaves, and the stylized eagle’s head pommel. Both cross guard and eagle’s head are well detailed and in very good condition, with almost all of the original nickel plating present.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe scabbard is made of fine black leather, fitted with heavily nickel plated alloy, and is in very good condition. The leather does show age and finish loss, but there are no stitch repairs on the back, and it still looks great. It is held by a lovely black leather frog with aluminum rivets and steel washers, and is maker marked on the back with \u003cstrong\u003eOFFERMANN \u0026amp; SÖHNE \/ RENSBERG \/ 1942\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a wonderful early war metropolitan police bayonet with scabbard \u0026amp; Frog! Ready to research and display!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBlade Length: 13\"\u003cbr\u003eBlade Style: Single Edged with Fuller\u003cbr\u003eOverall length: 17 1\/2”\u003cbr\u003eCrossguard: 2 1\/4”\u003cbr\u003eScabbard Length: 14 1\/2”\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41302412951621,"sku":"ONJR24MACA061","price":895.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONJR24MACA061__01.jpg?v=1712587305","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-german-wwii-metropolitan-police-long-dress-bayonet-by-alexander-coppel-with-scabbard-frog-matching-unit-markings","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}