Original German WWII Heer Army Reconnaissance Team 4 Etched Short 98k Dress Bayonet with Scabbard & Leather 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, and comes complete with the original scabbard and black leather frog. The bayonet has a very nice custom etched nickel plated blade. It also has has a nice alloy hilt, which still has about 90% of the original nickel plating intact, and a fully functional mortise button and lug channel, complete with a red felt insert. There is no real bubbling of the nickel finish, just some overall scratching and wear from use in service. The grip plates are both lovely checkered black bakelite, and both are in excellent condition. They are retained by plated steel slotless screws and split nuts, which show some minor 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 a bit of light oxidation, but nothing major, and the edge is still correctly blunt, with no dents or other issues.

The etched panel on the side of the blade has lovely foliate designs on the end, and the center of the panel has a lovely German black letter type face inscription:

Zur Erinnerung
an meine Dienstzeit
bei der Aufklärungs-Abtlg.4

This translates to “As a reminder of my service in Reconnaissance Team 4”, which is the standard inscription on most bayonets, however unlike most this actually gives a unit designation. The various Aufklärungs-Abteilungen (Reconnaissance Teams) were responsible for gathering localized intelligence in the field. There is no maker mark on the blade, but that is not uncommon, as many outfitters would purchase unmarked blade blanks in bulk, which they then would custom etch and plate themselves. 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 at about 80%, with some chipping on the front, and a bit more wear on the reverse and bottom ball, which is actually made from zinc. There is also some lovely crazing and checking to the finish, confirming the age. The scabbard is held in a very nice black leather belt frog, which looks to be the combat version, so it is a bit large on the scabbard. It is equipped with plated steel rivets, and is in very good condition.

A very nice example of an etched German Short 98k dress bayonet, complete with scabbard and frog. 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″