Original German WWII Heer Army Short 98k Dress Bayonet with Scabbard – Unmarked 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 stag or bakelite grip plates and black painted scabbard. The choice of blade length was left to the purchaser, being the 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. Often they would also have a sword knot, or troddle, and the color would indicate the branch or rank.

Enlisted or NCO personnel were permitted to purchase K-98 dress bayonets with fancy etched blades. These etchings run the gamut from simple designs featuring the standard remembrance, Zur Erinnerung an meine Dienstzeit (In Memory of My Service Time), to very fancy, custom etched depictions, citing the individual’s regiment, unit, and sometimes even his name. Many blade factories offered unique etch patterns. The etch work was often state of the art.

This is a very good example of a “basic” type, which is not maker marked and has a standard nickel plated blade without any etching. The bayonet is in very good condition, and comes complete with the original scabbard and black leather frog. It also has a nice alloy hilt, which still has over 90% of the original nickel plating, and a fully functional mortise button and lug channel, though the insert is missing. The grip plates are excellent condition checkered black bakelite, held in place by plated steel rivets with dressed heads on the obverse.

The blade is a fine nickel-plated example, and is in very good condition, and still has the original leather blade buffer/washer. The blade is straight, with runner wear on the tip and sides, as usually seen. There are very tiny spots of oxidation to the nickel, however they are quite small.

This example is unmarked on all sides and gives no identification to maker or unit. It also has a fuller on the blade, and looks much more like a combat knife than most dress bayonets. The scabbard is straight throughout and still has over 98% of the original black paint. It has a great “out of the attic” look.

A very nice example of a German 98k Heer dress bayonet, ready to display!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 7 3/4″
Blade Style: Single Edge w/ Fuller
Overall length: 12 5/8“
Crossguard: 2 1/4”
Scabbard Length: 8 3/4