Original German WWII Heer Army Short 98k Dress Bayonet by Robert Klaas with Scabbard & Frog

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 troddel, 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 nice example with some interesting characteristics, made by Robert Klaas, a very well-regarded and desirable maker. The bayonet is in very good condition, and comes complete with the original scabbard and black leather frog. Unlike most we see, the blade on this example is not nickel plated, looking almost like a long knife blade instead of a bayonet blade. It also has has a nice alloy hilt, which still has over 90% of the original nickel plating, and a fully functional mortise button and lug channel, though the felt insert is missing. There is some bubbling and age to the plating, 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 zinc alloy rivets, which have dressed heads on the obverse. Both now show light oxidation, as the plating has worn away.

The carbon steel blade on this example is definitely a rarity, which we have only seen a few times on dress bayonets such as these. The were however made to order, and it's possible that they intended it to be more of a functional than a ceremonial item. It shows just a bit of wear and oxidation, showing the factory final polish grind cross grain throughout. This texture is iconic, and is the definitive identifying characteristic for a real WWII German Blade. The edge is still correctly blunt, with no dents or other issues. really a great example.

The reverse ricasso is maker stamped with a "round" style trademark logo that reads ROBERT KLAAS / SOLINGEN, surrounding the trademark Klaas "Kissing Storks" trademark emblem. This is a well-known maker from Solingen, the famous "City of Blades" in Western Germany, which produced many fine edged weapons. The company was originally founded by Friedrich Robert Klaas, who married the daughter of knife maker Peter Daniel Pauls. After his father-in-law passed away, all was left to Klaas and his wife, so he merged his scissor business with the knife business, and registered with Solingen authorities in 1869. The company passed to his sons, and then his son-in-law. It survived WWI, WWII, and still exists today, per J. Anthony Carter's fine work GERMAN SWORD AND KNIFE MAKERS. The leather blade buffer is still present and in great shape.

The steel scabbard is straight throughout, showing no dents or other damage, however the original black enamel finish is definitely degraded. It has suffered a lot of age checking and crazing, which has caused a good amount of the enamel to flake away, especially on the front side. The areas where it is gone have now oxidized somewhat as well, giving it a lovely aged look. The scabbard is held in a very nice brown leather dress belt frog without rivets, which is in excellent condition.

A very interesting example of an unplated German Short 98k dress bayonet by a desirable Solingen maker, complete with scabbard and frog. 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"