Original German Pre WWII Heer Short 98k Dress Bayonet by Carl Eickhorn with Scabbard, Leather Frog, and NCO Troddel Knot

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 lovely Heer (army) example is in very good condition, and has a nickel plated blade, as almost all dress bayonets do. It has a very nice alloy hilt, with almost all of the Nickel Plating intact, showing a lovely lightly oxidized patina, though there is bubbling under a lot of the surface. The mortise button and blade release are fully functional, and the red felt insert is present, showing minor mothing. The grip plates are the checkered black Bakelite type, in excellent condition and retained by solid nickel alloy rivets with dressed obverse heads, which show light oxidation.

The 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 usually see this style of blade on examples by Eickhorn, and it may be a design only they used. The nickel plating is very well retained, showing just a bit of wear through on the very tip, and the edge is correctly unsharpened.

The rear of the blade is clearly stamped with the Eickhorn trademark "losenge" logo, one of many very similar logos used during the 1933-1935 period: a double oval surrounding a seated squirrel holding a sword, with CARL EICKHORN / SOLINGEN surrounding the squirrel trademark. Carl Eickhorn is a legendary maker from Solingen, the famous "City of Blades" in Western Germany.

According to J. Anthony Carter's book, GERMAN KNIFE AND SWORD MAKERS, 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. Eickhorn edged weapons are the most desirable of all makers.

The scabbard is straight throughout with no dents we can see, and the original black enamel paint finish is retained at about 75%, with some areas worn through to the steel, which now shows light oxidation. The remaining finish shows the expected crazing and checking from age. The brown leather dress frog is in very good condition, showing some flaking of the finish, and the stitching is fully intact.

Wrapped about the frog is a very nice Non-Commissioned Officer's Troddel knot. This troddel is of leather strapping with a bullion end ball. This is silver bullion with a green top, and is in great shape, with a green insert into the bottom. It is in very good condition, with just a bit of wear.

A great example of a German short 98k dress bayonet by the most legendary of all makers, complete with scabbard, frog, and troddel knot. 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"