Original German WWII Etched Short Dress Bayonet by Lauterjung & Sohn Puma-Werk 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 or long 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 a few areas of oxidation, but no flaking. 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 blade still has its factory blunt edge.

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

Fur Erinnerung
an meine Dienstzeit
Kempten / Allgäu

This translates to “For remembrance of my service”, a common phrase to see on personalized items. Kempten is the largest town of Allgäu, in Swabia, Bavaria, Germany, and was most likely where the soldier was from, or possibly where they were stationed during the war. The original leather blade buffer is in place, and is in very nice condition. 

The reverse ricasso bears a puma’s head in a diamond above PUMA over SOLINGEN, the trademark of Puma-Werk, a brand name of Lauterjung & Sohn. This is a well-known maker from Solingen, the famous “City of Blades” in Western Germany, which marketed many fine edged weapons. It has been surmised that they subcontracted out much of their blade work to other Solingen-based firms.

The scabbard is straight throughout and still has over 80% of the original black enamel paint.  There is some flaking, as well as a lot of crazing and checking, common on items of this age. The body is held by the included black leather frog, which is in good used condition, though the finish has some cracking and flaking. The leather is soft, and the stitching intact, though the retaining strap has broken off. Also there are traces of maker markings and Waffen proofs on the back, but they are not clear due to age.

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