Original German WWII Heer Army Etched Short 98k Dress Bayonet by Robert Klaas with Scabbard 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 Robert Klaas, a very well-regarded and desirable maker. The bayonet is in very good condition, and comes complete with the original black enamel finished steel scabbard. 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, complete with a red felt insert. There is some bubbling and age to the plating, but it still presents very nicely. The grip plates are both lovely checkered black bakelite, and both are in very good condition, with a small chip in the right side by the cross guard. They are retained by zinc alloy rivets, which have dressed heads on the obverse, showing some oxidation.

The blade on this example is nickel-plated, as were all dress bayonets. There is some plating loss from runner wear and cleaning, as well as some areas of past water-related oxidation that have been polished. It looks like this bayonet was carried quite a bit, possibly even in the rain. The edge is still correctly blunt, with no dents or other issues, though it is just a bit loose in the hilt.

The etched panel itself has some lovely “Wotan’s Knot” designs at either end, with a large spread wing Reichsadler in the center. Under this 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. There is also a small GESCHÜTZ in the upper right corner, indicating that the etching is a trademarked design.

The reverse ricasso is maker marked with a “round” style trademark logo that reads ROBERT KLAAS / SOLINGEN, surrounding the trademark Klaas “Kissing Storks” trademark emblem. This is a well-known maker from Solingen, the famous “City of Blades” in Western Germany, which produced many fine edged weapons. The company was originally founded by Friedrich Robert Klaas, who married the daughter of knife maker Peter Daniel Pauls. After his father-in-law passed away, all was left to Klaas and his wife, so he merged his scissor business with the knife business, and registered with Solingen authorities in 1869. The company passed to his sons, and then his son-in-law. It survived WWI, WWII, and still exists today, per J. Anthony Carter’s fine work GERMAN SWORD AND KNIFE MAKERS. The leather blade buffer is still present and in great shape.

The scabbard is straight throughout, and really is in great shape considering the age. The original black enamel finish is very well retained, with some light chipping and scrapes on the bottom ball and sides of the scabbard. There is also some lovely crazing and checking to the finish, confirming the age.

A very nice example of an etched German Short 98k dress bayonet by a desirable Solingen maker, complete with a great scabbard. Ready to display!

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