Original German WWII Heer Army Single Etched Long 98k Dress Bayonet with Scabbard and Leather 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, 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 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 lovely Heer (army) example is in very good condition, and has a nickel plated blade, as all dress bayonets do. It has has a nice bird's head alloy hilt, with almost all of the nickel plating intact, though it does show some oxidation and pin pricking. There are just a few nicks / chips on the sharp edges, and just a bit of bubbling on the reverse. The mortise button and blade release are present and fully functional, and the red felt insert is still present, though it does show moth damage. The grip plates are lovely checkered black bakelite, and are in excellent condition. They are retained by plated steel dome-headed rivets dressed on the reverse, which now show light oxidation.

The blade on this example is nickel-plated, as were all dress bayonets, the plating is very well retained, showing just a bit of oxidation next to the leather blade buffer, which is also in very good shape. There is runner wear on the tip area from wear due to the scabbard runner, however it has not worn through the plating It has correctly not been sharpened, and still retains its blunt factory edge, showing a few small dents.

The etched panel itself has some lovely designs, surrounded by "Wotan's Knot" motifs, with a large spread wing Wehrmachtadler Eagle in the center. Below the wings of the eagle flanking the wreathed swas is a lovely German black letter type face inscription:

Zur Erinnerung an meine Dienstzeit

This translates to "As a reminder of my service", which is a very common inscription for these dress bayonets. There is no maker mark on the blade, which is not uncommon, as unmarked blade blanks were often purchased in bulk by retailers, who would have them etched, plated, and fitted to order.

The scabbard is straight throughout, without any major dents or other issues. The original black enamel finish is very well retained on both sides, and shows know signs of having been refinished. There is a lovely pattern of checking and crazing on both sides, with a bit of oxidation spotting, but no major flaking of the finish. The scabbard is held in a very nice black leather dress belt frog, which still has the finish well retained, but showing some "melting" as the patent leather finish degraded. The stitching and both rivets are fully intact.

An very nice example of an German etched Long 98k dress bayonet, complete with scabbard and frog, ready to display!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 9 3/4"
Blade Style: Single Edge w/ Fuller
Overall length: 14 5/8“
Crossguard: 2 1/4”
Scabbard Length: 10 1/2"