Original German WWII Heer Army Etched Short 98k Dress Bayonet by Carl Eickhorn with Stag Grips, Scabbard & 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 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, made by Carl Eickhorn, a very well-regarded and desirable maker. The bayonet is in very good condition, and comes complete with the original scabbard and black leather frog. The bayonet has a has a very nice custom etched nickel plated blade. It also has has a nice alloy hilt, which still has over 90% of the original nickel plating, and a fully functional mortise button and lug channel, which still has the green felt insert. The grip plates are carved stag antler, a classic material for upmarket bayonet grip scales. They are retained by solid nickel rivets which have dressed heads on the obverse, showing some light oxidation.

The blade on this example is nickel-plated, as were all dress bayonets. There is some light plating wear, mostly related to the runner inside the scabbard. There is some light oxidation, and the edge of the blade also has been sharpened a bit on this example, possibly having been forced into service at the end of the war. The tang of the blade is definitely a bit loose in the handle.

The etched panel itself has some lovely designs, with a Wehrmachtadler Eagle to the bottom near the guard, with a Stahlhelm steel helmet on top of crossed rifles with an oak leaf wreath underneath. The centerpiece of the panel is a nice double line banner design, with oak leaf clusters in the background. In the banner of the panel is a lovely German black letter type face inscription:

Zur Erinnerung
an meine Dienstzeit

This translates to “As a reminder of my service”, which is a very common inscription for these dress bayonets.

The rear ricasso of the blade is stamped with the 1935-41 Eickhorn trademark: a seated squirrel holding a sword, with the word ORIGINAL above and the firm’s name and location, Eickhorn / SOLINGEN below. Carl Eickhorn is a legendary maker from Solingen, the famous “City of Blades” in Western Germany. According to J. Anthony Carter’s book, GERMAN KNIFE AND SWORD MAKERS, this company was founded in 1865 by Carl Eickhorn, and is arguably the most famous of all Solingen makers. Not only could the family trace their history back 500 years, but they could also demonstrate involvement in the hardening and grinding industries for the same period. Truly the nobility of Solingen Edged weapon dynasties. Eickhorn edged weapons are the most desirable of all makers.

The scabbard is straight throughout, and really is in great shape considering the age. The original black enamel finish is well retained, with just a bit of chipping on the bottom ball and some wear from the frog. It has a fantastic pattern of crazing and checking on both sides, showing that it is definitely the original paint job. It takes decades for finishes to achieve this lovely desirable finish. The scabbard is held in a very nice black patent leather frog, which has had the original finish “melt” over the time, as they often do. It is definitely a dress frog, as it does not have the usual rivet reinforcements field frogs do.

A very nice example of an etched German Short 98k dress bayonet by the most famous of all Solingen makers with some great stag grips! Comes complete with scabbard and frog and is more than ready to display!

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