Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very good condition matching Unit Marked Metropolitan Police Long Dress “Walking Out” Bayonet by P.D. Lüneschloss of Solingen. It comes complete with its original metal fit black leather scabbard and frog. It features a beautiful Stag Handle, with a unit marking on the guard of the bayonet:
S. D. IV. 168.
This would probably indicate issue to the Schutzpolizei (Protection Police) of the Dresden Metropolitan Area, Fourth District, Officer 168. The same marking is stamped into the back of the throat of the scabbard, so this is an original matched set.
This is a high quality dress bayonet, with a lovely “Eagle’s Head” alloy pommel, which like many has no functional bayonet catch, or even a slot. 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 about 80% of the original nickel plating, with wear-through on the lower area close to the tip. There is a bit of oxidation where the plating has worn away.
The reverse ricasso is stamped with the P.D. Lüneschloss simplified address:
P. D. LÜNESCHLOSS
SOLINGEN
This well-known company was founded in 1810 by Peter Daniel Lüneschloss, and produced numerous edged weapons, both for domestic and foreign contracts. They manufactured many private purchase officer’s swords and blades for the U.S. Civil war. This marking was particularly used during the Third Reich period on walking out bayonets, per J. Anthony Carter’s work GERMAN KNIFE AND SWORD MAKERS.
The leather washer is unfortunately not present. The bayonet grip scales are made of stag-horn with an aluminum police insignia firmly inset on one side, retained by aluminum rivets. These are held between the upswept cross guard decorated with oak leaves, and the stylized eagle’s head pommel. Both cross guard and eagle’s head are well detailed and in very good condition, with most of the original nickel plating present.
The scabbard is made of fine black leather, fitted with nickel plated brass, and is in very good condition. The leather has a bit of finish loss, but nothing major, as shown. It is held in the correct black leather frog, which is in very good condition, with the expected wear from age and service.
This is a wonderful WWII Era 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”