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, either 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.

What we have here however is a MINIATURE version, more of a knife or dagger, which are quite rare when compared to the full size version. This is only the second example that we have had, and it's really a lovely nickel plated example with a great patina. It has the characteristic steel "birds head" grip, and there is no bayonet button. The sides of the grip have lovely aged stag antler panels, retained by steel rivets. They show some great period wear and have matured to a yellow color in many areas.

The blade is single edged with a single fuller, much more of a "dagger" blade than a bayonet blade, and other examples that we have seen fit this model as well. The nickel plate is still well retained, except near the ricasso, and it has properly not been sharpened. It is marked with Andenken an den Weltkrieg, or "Souvenir of the World War". There are not any markings on the bayonet knife, and other examples we have seen from the period were also devoid of markings.

The included steel scabbard has the standard black enamel lacquer, which is very well retained, showing a lovely pattern of checking and crazing due to age. It looks to be lined on the inside partly with felt, and only fits on the knife in one direction.

A very nice example of a German Miniature 98k nickel plated dress bayonet knife with some lovely stag horn grip scales. Complete with scabbard, this bayonet knife is ready to display!

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