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.

This great Heer (army) example is in excellent condition, and has a nickel plated blade, as all dress bayonets do. It has a nice alloy hilt, with almost all of the Nickel Plating intact, showing a lovely lightly oxidized patina. The mortise button and blade release are fully functional, and the green felt insert is present. The grip plates are both lovely stag horn, with fantastic grain, and both are in great condition. They are retained by plated steel rivets dressed on the reverse.

The blade on this example is nickel-plated, as were all dress bayonets, and there is only some light oxidation, as well as wear from the runners in the scabbard. It has not been sharpened, and still retains its blunt factory edge. The original leather blade buffer is in place, and is in excellent condition. The ricasso is marked with the "Left Facing Tiger" trademark of the Lauterjung & Co. firm, and the reverse side is marked with:

TIGER
SOLINGEN

Lauterjung & Co., Tiger Stahlwaren- und Waffenfabrik is a famous manufacturer in Solingen, the legendary "City of Blades" in Western Germany. Their trademark was a Tiger, and their factory was thus often referred to as Tigerwerk (Tiger Works). The firm was founded in 1873 to make knives, scissors, and other steel ware, and survived until after the war. There were several different branches of the Lauterjung family involved in edged weapons, operating under different trade names to avoid confusion. For more information please see GERMAN KNIFE AND SWORD MAKERS by J. Anthony Carter.

The scabbard is straight throughout and has black enamel paint. This paint is still in very good condition with only light scratching and chipping, with the usual crazing and checking from age.

An great example of an German short 98k dress bayonet by a desirable maker with staghorn grips, complete with scabbard. Ready to display!

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