Original German WWII Unit and Name Inscribed Heer Army Short 98k Dress Bayonet 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 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 is a very interesting example, which does not have a maker mark, a somewhat common occurrence. These were often sold blank to retailers so that they could etch and mark them in house, however this example is definitely a bit different from most. It is in very good condition, and comes complete with the original scabbard and black leather frog. It has a very nice nickel plated "knife style" blade, which in this case was not etched from the factory or by the retailer. It was however apparently inscribed using what looks to have been an engraving pen, or something similar, and bears some very interesting service information! The left side of the blade is marked with :

Zur Erinnerung an meine Dienstzeit 37 / 39

Which translates to "In Memory of My Service Time 37-39", and it looks like the nickname Hedi is inscribed onto the ricasso. The other side of the blade has a very nice unit marking, which as best we can tell reads:

Jg. Tenzel 6. / J.R. 104 Speyer a/Rh.

This looks to be named to Jäger Tenzel of the 6th Company, 104th Jäger Regiment, based in the city of Speyer on the Rhein River. Definitely some great research potential here!

Otherwise, the blade is in very good condition, showing very little in the way of oxidation or damage. The tip of the blade has lost the original nickel plating on the last 1/2 inch or so, showing light oxidation, but also allowing the factory final polish grind cross grain to the seen. This texture is iconic, and is the definitive identifying characteristic for a real WWII German Blade.

The bayonet has a nice alloy hilt, which has about 80% 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 nickel alloy rivets, which have dressed heads on the obverse, and there no movement of the hilt or grips on the tang.

The scabbard is straight throughout, showing no dents or bends, however the original black enamel finish is probably only retained at about 60%. What remains shows crazing and checking to the finish, confirming the age, while the areas where it has flaked away show surface oxidation, giving it a lovely aged look. The scabbard is held in a very nice black leather belt frog, which originally had a lovely black patent leather finish, though this has "melted" and cracked over time, as they often do.

A very nice example of an inscribed German Short 98k dress bayonet with some great research potential, 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"