BACKGROUND: During the Third Reich period numerous blade manufacturers produced customized, private purchase versions of the S84/98 and KS98 bayonets for dress wear. The dress bayonets were manufactured with an assortment of minor optional variations with a long model, (9 7/8"), blade for enlisted personnel and a shorter, (7 7/8"), blade for NCO’s and Officers. Due to the dress bayonets similarity to the issue bayonets they experienced slow sales and the F. W. Höller firm of Solingen attempted to increase demand by marketing the dress bayonets as the "Pionier", (Engineer), models, although they were available to personnel in all branches of service. It is not known if the marketing strategy was successful in increasing sales but it did result in the dress bayonets commonly being referred to as "Pioniere Extrawaffe". A popular option offered by the blade manufacturers was an acid etched motif on the blade for a nominal extra cost. Most of the etched designs were of a standard pattern that were applied by the use of a template and were copyrighted by the manufacturing firm. Additionally more personalized etched designs were also available at an extra cost. As with the K98 bayonets the dress bayonets were accompanied by a bayonet frog to be worn on the reverse left side of the weight bearing waist belt. Generally when purchased the dress bayonets also came with a colored, felt "plug", at no extra cost, to be inserted in the "TO", slot on the pommel with a red felt plug for most armed forces personnel and a green felt plug for Jäger, (Light Infantry), personnel. Of Note: Luftwaffe personnel also utilized red, green, golden yellow and brown dress bayonet felt plugs depending on their actual branch of service.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Roughly, 7 7/8" long, nickel/silver plated, drop forged, steel construction blade with deep, narrow fullers to each side and a top edge swedge to the forward tip. The blade retains about 70% of it’s nickel/silver plated finish with numerous, small surface scratches and light surface spotting. The reverse ricasso is well marked with the manufacturer’s logo and initials that consists of a set of weigh scales interspersed with initials, "ACS", indicating manufacture by Alexander Coppel Stahlwaren und Waffenfabrik of Solingen. The chocolate brown leather washer is still intact. The bayonet has a nickel/silver plated alloy, crossguard with one up-swept arm and a stylized eagle head pommel. The hilt fittings retain about 80% of their original nickel/silver plated finish with small spots of wear to the base alloy and numerous small lifting bubbles. The bayonet has diamond grooved, molded black bakelite construction grips which are secured to the hilt by two, small, dome headed, steel rivets. The "TO" slotted, stylized eagle head pommel and stud button are all intact and still function. The bayonet comes complete with its original black painted, tooled, sheet metal construction scabbard. The scabbard only retains hints of its original black finish with moderate to heavy surface spotting through-out. The inserted throat, throat retaining screw and the frog lug are all intact. Also included is a blackened, patent leather construction bayonet frog. The frog consists of a roughly, 8 1/2" tall, 2" wide at its widest point and 1" wide at its narrowest point, dual layered, vertical, hour glass shaped leather panels with an opened belt loop to the top edge and a stitched on bayonet pocket to the bottom edge of the obverse. The base of the frog has a row of stitching near each outside edge. The bayonet pocket is stitched down sides with a central vertically oval front lug hole. The frog is in well used condition with heavy surface scarring through-out and the outer edge stitching to the central portion has come undone. The frog has no visible manufacture’s markings.

GRADE **3/4                             PRICE $168.00