Original German WWII 98k Rifle Etched Short Dress Bayonet by Tigerwerk Lauterjung & Co. with Frog Original Items

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 black checkered 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.

This Heer (Army) example is in very good condition, and has a very nice custom etched blade. It has has a nice alloy hilt, with most of the Nickel Plating intact, though there is some flaking and oxidation present, as shown. The mortise button and blade release are fully functional, though the felt insert is missing. The grip plates are the black checkered type, and both are in great condition. They are retained by nickel-plated steel rivets which have dressed heads on the obverse, with some oxidation.

The blade on this example is nickel-plated, as were all dress bayonets. It does have wear to the plating, with some flaking and missing portions, where there is light staining. The wear is entirely consistent with runner wear, so this is mainly from the bayonet being unsheathed countless times, probably to examine the wonderful etched panel.

The panel itself has lovely floral designs around the edge, with a German Stahlhelm (helmet) to the left, and the NSDAP party eagle to the right. In the middle is a statement in very attractive German black letter type face:

Zur Erinnerung
an meine Dienstzeit

This translates to “For remembrance of my service”, a common phrase to see on personalized items. The original leather blade buffer is in place, and is in very nice condition. The reverse ricasso is marked with the “Left Facing Tiger” trademark of the Lauterjung & Co. firm, and to the right of the trademark is:

TIGER

SOLINGEN

Lauterjung & Co., Tiger Stahlwaren- und Waffenfabrik is a famous manufacturer in Solingen, the legendary “City of Blades” in Western Germany. Their trademark was a Tiger, and their factory was thus often referred to as Tigerwerk (Tiger Works). The firm was founded in 1873 to make knives, scissors, and other steel ware, and survived until after the war. There were several different branches of the Lauterjung family involved in edged weapons, operating under different trade names to avoid confusion. For more information please see GERMAN KNIFE AND SWORD MAKERS by J. Anthony Carter.

The scabbard is straight throughout and still has over 95% of the original black paint. This really is a great scabbard, with very little age related degradation. There are a few areas of crazing and checking, but aside from that the scabbard is almost like new. The body is held by the included leather frog, which is in good used condition, though the finish has some cracking and flaking. The leather is soft, and the stitching intact.

An great example of an Etched German 98k Heer dress bayonet by a well-known maker, complete frog, ready to display!