BACKGROUND: Edged weapon portepees/troddels and knots were originally introduced in the Prussian army in 1808, and continued to be worn with the Dress uniform, as a tradition and identifying item through WWI, the Weimar Republic and on into the Third Reich, with minor modifications. Originally designed as a functional item to secure the blade sidearm to the holders wrist the knots eventually evolved into a purely decorative, traditional edged weapon accessory. For enlisted personnel the main components of, strap, slide, stem, crown, and ball were woven or pleated cotton in different colors representing which unit within a regiment the wearer served. The basic regiment consisted of three Battalions with a Headquarters unit and four Companies each, with two additional Regimental or Headquarters Companies and usually a Reserve and Training Companies. This resulted in a colorful array of bayonet knots within a regiment with twelve or more assorted color combinations. Of Note: NCO personnel wore a different type of bayonet knot, that did not show association with a particular unit, but indicated position.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: This example consists of the main components of, strap, slide, stem, crown, and ball. The roughly, 25 1/2" long, 5/8" wide, dark green, woven cotton/rayon blend strap features a central waffle pattern flanked on either side by two interwoven vertical stripes. The strap is inserted through the interwoven red cotton slide and into the top of the interwoven green cotton stem. The crown consists of horizontally laid, twisted red cotton braiding while the ball consists of vertically laid, twisted green cotton and both are mounted on an internal, carved, wooden base. The bottom of the ball has a circular recess with an inset piece of the green strap. The troddel is in overall very good condition with minimal age and usage toning and the slide shows moderate color fading. The coloration of the troddel signifies the owner served with the 14^TH Reserve Company.

GRADE ****                             PRICE $95.00