Original German WWII Luftwaffe Air Force Single Etched Short 98k Dress Bayonet by F.W. Höller 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 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.

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 example is in very good condition, and has a very nice custom etched nickel plated blade. It comes complete with the original scabbard and a black patent leather frog. The bayonet has a nice alloy hilt, which still retains the plating at about 80%, showing a bit of flaking and wear on the end of the pommel, which also shows denting from being used as a hammer. The pommel does have a locking stud and mortise slot, however the locking mechanism mechanism is frozen with oxidation, and the felt insert is missing. The grip plates are both lovely checkered black bakelite, and both are in great condition. They are retained by nickel plated steel alloy rivets which have dressed heads on the obverse, showing some plating loss and oxidation.

Measuring 13.5" (345 mm) with the scabbard on, this dress bayonet features a 7 3/4" (200 mm) nickel-plated steel blade with unsharpened edges, remaining bright and crisp. It is a "knife" style blade with partial fullers and a false edge on the top of the point. The right side of the blade has a lovely etched panel with the text Erinnerung an meine Dienstzeit (Memory of my Service Period), surrounded by an oak leaf and acorn border and flanked by oak leaf and acorn sprigs on either side. In the center of the etching is a panel showing a WWI type biplane with some clouds, indicating this bayonet was intended for a member of the Luftwaffe Air Force.

The ricasso is maker marked with a "losenge" style trademark logo that reads F. W. HÖLLER / SOLINGEN, surrounding the trademark Höller "Thermometer" emblem. This is a well-known maker from Solingen, the famous "City of Blades" in Western Germany, which produced many fine edged weapons.

F.W. Höller, Waffenfabrik (Weapons Factory), located in Solingen, the legendary "City of Blades" in western Germany. During the WWII Period they manufactured many SA and NSKK daggers, both with their "thermometer" trademark and later with the RZM code M7/33. They also produced numerous 98K bayonets and other edged weapons. The firm was founded in 1866, and registered in Solingen in 1883. By 1900 ownership had passed to Emil Höller, and it continued manufacture after WWII, finally closing in 1974. For more information please see J. Anthony Carter's fine work GERMAN SWORD AND KNIFE MAKERS.

The steel scabbard is straight throughout, and is in very good condition considering the age. The original black enamel finish is retained at about 80%, showing some wear through on the edges as well as overall crazing and checking due to age. The scabbard is held in a very nice black patent leather dress belt frog, which definitely shows age-related deterioration to the finish, which has "melted" and checked over the years. There also is some tearing on the edges of the scabbard slot.

An very nice example of an etched German Short 98k dress bayonet by a well-known maker in its original scabbard, complete with frog and ready to display!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 7 3/4"
Blade Style: Single Edge w/ Fuller
Overall length: 12 5/8“
Crossguard: 2 1/4”
Scabbard Length: 8 3/4"