Original Item: Only One Available. Commonly referred to as a “walking out” Bayonet, this edged weapon was never designed to actually fit on any rifle even the Mauser 1871 model after which it is named.
This is a lovely Dress or Parade Bayonet, worn only on ceremonial occasions and when going on leave. These have higher quality finish than the issue M-71 Bayonet, with a lovely etched blade showing “Stands of Arms” and foliage etc. Its cross guard looks to be solid nickel silver, and for all intents and purposes looks like its “Combat Cousin”. However, even though it has a catch spring it has not been machined to fit on any rifle and there is no catch assembly whatsoever. It is really a Parade Sidearm made to look like a bayonet.
The spine of the blade has additional etching, as well as the name of the retailer that sold it: UNIFORM & MILITAIR EFFECTEN-FABRIK DARMSTADT, which translates to “Uniform & Military Effects Factory”, located in Hesse, Germany. They were most likely the company that did the etching on the bayonet.
The blade’s ricasso is stamped with the double trademark “King’s Head” alongside a “Knights’s Head” logo of legendary maker Weyersberg Kirschbaum & Cie of Solingen, over the firms initials of W.K & C. This trademark is used on private purchase blades and walking-out bayonets during the WWI period and prior, so it is absolutely correct for this bayonet.
It comes in good quality brass mounted leather scabbard and is a fine example with probably 125 years of age to it. It has shrunk a bit over time, so it unfortunately no longer fully covers the blade.
Overall an very good condition high quality Parade Bayonet from a legendary German sword maker, based in Solingen, the “City of Blades” in Western Germany. Ready to display!