Original German WWII Etched Fireman’s Short Dress Bayonet with Scabbard and Frog – Hamburg 1940 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. This also included civic organizations such as Police and Feuerschutzpolizei (Fire Protection Police) units. The bayonets were finished with a high-quality nickel plating, with often custom grip plates and black enamel painted scabbards. 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, and others had no latch at all.

This Fireman’s Bayonet is in very good condition throughout, and is the 7 3/4-inch blade “short” version. The nickel hilt plating is bright throughout and remains 90% intact, with just some wear and light oxidation in places. It has the typical “S” shape crossguard used on the Fireman issue bayonet. The grip plates are the checkered black Bakelite type, in excellent condition and retained by nickel rivets with dressed obverse heads.

The blade is a fine example, and was originally fully nickel plated. It looks like it was then customized by the retailer, and had the plating removed and two lovely acid etched panels added. One side of the blade reads:

FeuerschutzPolizei

While the reverse reads:

Hamburg 1940

Apparently the owner was a member of the Fire Protection Police (Fire brigade) and was stationed in the city of Hamburg in 1940. The original leather blade buffer is unfortunately missing from the ricasso.

The scabbard is quite nice and still has over 80% of the original black enamel paint, with some checking and crazing between the chipped areas. There are no dents, and just light wear. The body is held by the included black leather frog, which is in very good used condition, with minimal finish cracking. All of the stitching looks to be intact, and it fits the scabbard nicely. It looks to originally have been finished brown, and then refinished in black, which has worn off on the front side.

A nice, complete example here, ready to display!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 7 7/8″
Blade Style: Single Edge w/ Fuller
Overall length: 12 1/2“
Crossguard: 2 3/4”
Scabbard Length: 9″