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 nickel-plated short or long 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 very nice example is in good condition, and has a very nice nickel plated blade. It has has a nice alloy hilt, with virtually all of the Nickel Plating intact, with only minor, as shown. The mortise button and blade release are fully functional, complete with the green felt insert. The grip plates are both lovely checkered black bakelite, and both are in great condition. They are retained by plated steel screws retained by split nuts on the other side.

The blade on this example is nickel-plated, as were all dress bayonets. It does have light wear to the plating and oxidation, with some runner wear and light scratching. It has not been sharpened, and still retains its blunt factory edge. The original leather blade buffer is in place, and is in very nice condition.

The rear ricasso of the blade is stamped with the trademark logo of Ernst Pack & Söhne, which is in excellent condition. The mark shows their trademark "Young Siegfried wielding a hammer" Logo to the left of:

Per J. Anthony Carter's book GERMAN KNIFE AND SWORD MAKERS, this firm used this trademark on Army Officer swords and dress bayonets from the early war period to the middle of the war. They mostly made daggers so there is not as much information regarding the bayonets. The company survived the war, until it was sold in the 1960s to another knife company from Solingen, and the maker mark continued to be used into the 1990s.

There is also A. SAYSEN / BAMBERG stamped into the other side of the blade, which we assume is the retailer that sold the bayonet. We have found other examples with this same marking. Retailers often bought unfinished bayonets or blade blanks, and then would do the fit and finish themselves.

The scabbard is straight throughout and still has about 80% of the original black paint. There is a lot of crazing in the enamel, with some areas of wear, common for scabbards of this age. The body is held by the included black leather frog, which is in good condition. Like many black patent leather items from WWII, the finish hardens over time, as this one had, giving it a cracked appearance. It is still in good shape, with intact stitching, and the leather is not overly stiff.

Wrapped about the frog is a very nice Artillery Non-Commissioned Officer's Troddel knot. This troddel is of patterned fabric strapping with a bullion end ball. It has a red stem for artillery, while the rest is silver / gray. It is in good condition, with staining and wear. The slider is worn through, as is the top of the stem.

An great example of an German Short 98k dress bayonet by a well-known maker, complete with frog and artillery troddel knot, ready to display!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 8"
Blade Style: Single Edge w/ Fuller
Overall length: 12 5/8“
Crossguard: 2 1/4”
Scabbard Length:9"