Original German WWII Heer Long 98k Dress Bayonet by Robert Klaas with Scabbard and 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 troddle, and the color would indicate the branch or rank.

This nice example is in good condition, and has a very nice nickel plated blade. It has a nice alloy hilt, with much of the Nickel Plating intact, though there is some heavy wear, as shown. The mortise button and blade release are fully functional, though the felt insert is missing. The grip plates are both lovely checkered black bakelite, and both are in great condition. They are retained by aluminum rivets which have dressed heads on the obverse.

The blade on this example is nickel-plated, as were all dress bayonets. It does have slight wear to the plating and oxidation, with some runner wear and light scratching. It has not been sharpened, and still retains its blunt factory edge. The original leather blade buffer is in place, and is in very nice condition. 

The reverse ricasso is maker-marked 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 scabbard is straight throughout and still has over 85% of the original black paint with some areas of loss near the frog. The body is held by the included black leather frog, which is in rough condition with heavy crazing and cracking in the leather.

A great example of a German Long 98k dress bayonet by a well-known maker, 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"