Original German WWII Kassel Metropolitan Police Long Dress Bayonet by E. & F. Hörster with Scabbard & Frog - Matching

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a lovely matching Kassel Metropolitan Police Unit Marked Long Dress "Walking Out" Bayonet by the well known firm E. & F. Hörster of Solingen. A beautiful piece that comes complete with its original black leather scabbard and frog.

The handle of the bayonet is lovely solid nickel plated alloy, featuring a lovely decorated "Birds Head" pommel with a functional bayonet slot and an upswept cross guard decorated with oak leaves. The grip scales are made of beautiful stag horn with an aluminum police insignia firmly attached on one side. These are held with solid aluminum rivets and show no wiggle at all. There are holes in both scales next to the cross guard, something we often see, however no cracks or other damage Both cross guard and eagle’s head are in very good condition, with most of the original nickel plating still intact, showing just a bit of wear and oxidation.

As with most police bayonets, there is a unit marking on the reverse guard of the bayonet:

S. Ka. 1. 208.

This indicates issue to the Metropolitan Schutzpolizei (Protection Police) of the Kassel, District 1, Officer 208. The same unit marking is stamped onto the back of the scabbard, making this a lovely matched set.

The 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 80% of the original nickel plating, with just a bit of oxidation and wear, showing missing plating near the tip from runner wear and cleaning. There is also a bit of bubbling and oxidation near the crossguard, which does not have a blade buffer present.

reverse ricasso of the bayonet is maker marked E. & F. HÖRSTER / SOLINGEN, while the other side bears the company's trademark downward pointing sword piercing interlocking HHS initials. E. & F. Hörster & Co Gmbh is a well-known maker from Solingen, the famous "City of Blades" in Western Germany, which marketed many fine edged weapons. Originally founded in 1850 as "Friedrich Hörster" in 1850, the company was renamed to E. & F. Hörster in 1870 at the behest of Friedrich Emil & Fritz Hörster. The firm lasted long after WWII, finally being declared insolvent in 1996. For more information please see GERMAN KNIFE AND SWORD MAKERS by J. Anthony Carter.

The scabbard is made of fine black leather, fitted with nickel plated brass, and is in very good condition. The leather does show age and finish loss, with some flaking to the black finish on the leather. It is held in the correct black leather frog with steel and aluminum rivets, which is in good condition. There is wear and finish loss, but no tears or stitching pulling, and it is maker marked on the back with L. KRUMM-LANGHARDT / OFFENBACH a. MAIN / 1940.

This is a wonderful early war metropolitan police bayonet with scabbard! Ready to display!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 13"
Blade Style: Single Edged with Fuller
Overall length: 17 1/2”
Crossguard: 2 1/4”
Scabbard Length: 14 1/2”