Original German WWII Heer Etched Long 98k Dress Bayonet by WKC 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 very nice example is in very good condition, and comes complete with the original scabbard. The bayonet has a has a very nice custom etched nickel plated blade. It has has a nice alloy hilt, which still has much of the original nickel plating, with wear in some areas, particularly around the button. It looks like some corrosion took hold on the mortise button and blade release, which are currently seized. There is also a good amount of the alloy missing from the button, and it looks like previously someone tried to use a hammer to get the button to move. The felt inert is also missing. The grip plates are both lovely checkered black bakelite, and both are in very good condition. They are retained by nickel rivets which have dressed heads on the obverse.

The blade on this example is nickel-plated, as were all dress bayonets. It does have wear to the plating and light oxidation, with some runner wear and light scratching. It has not been sharpened, and still retains its blunt factory edge. There are some dents on the lower edge near the tip, and it looks like it may have been used to open something in the past. The blade is a bit loose in the tang as well.

The etched panel itself has a lovely Oak Leaf & Acorn motif on the edges, a very common design on German edged weapons. In the center of the panel is a lovely German black letter type face inscription:

Erinnerung an meine Dienstzeit

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

The ricasso is stamped with the trademark “Knight’s Helmet” (Ritter-helm) over WKC logo of legendary maker Weyersberg Kirschbaum & Cie of Solingen. This company is a famous manufacturer of military swords and cutlery in Solingen, Germany – a city famous since the middle ages for its metal-working and craftsmanship in sword making.

Per J. Anthony Carter’s work GERMAN KNIFE AND SWORD MAKERS, the traditional manufacturing of swords at WKC dates back to the year 1774 when the Weyersberg first registered the ”Kings head” as their trademark. Later in 1883 the company merged with the Kirschbaums and the company Weyersberg Kirschbaum & Cie was formed, which continued into the Weimar Period. It then rebranded as W.K.C. Waffenfabrik GmbH, and produced many edged weapons during the NSDAP Period. The company is still in operation today.

The scabbard is straight throughout, however it does show much wear to the black enamel paint. It looks to originally have had a frog, now missing, which protected the upper 4th of the scabbard both. Most of the finish below that is missing, and there are also some dents on the bottom rear, though they do not interfere with sheathing the blade. This definitely looks to have seen extensive use during the war.

An very nice example of a personalized German Short 98k dress bayonet by a well-known maker, complete with scabbard and ready to display!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 9 3/4″
Blade Style: Single Edge w/ Fuller
Overall length: 14 5/8“
Crossguard: 2 1/4”
Scabbard Length: 10 1/2″