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 is in overall good condition with light scabbard runner marks, numerous, unusual light surface scratches and some minor surface spotting. The blade has no visible manufacturer’s markings. The chocolate brown leather washer is still intact. The bayonet has a nickel/silver plated alloy, crossguard with one up-swept arm, a flash guard and a stylized eagle head pommel. The hilt fittings all retain about 85% of their original age and usage dulled plating with small spots of wear to the base alloy. The bayonet has diamond grooved, molded black bakelite construction grips which are secured to the hilt by two, small, dome headed alloy rivets. The "TO" slotted, stylized eagle head pommel and stud button are all intact and functional and comes with a green felt "plug", indicating Jäger, (Light Infantry), personnel. The bayonet comes complete with its original black painted, sheet metal scabbard that retains about 75% of its original black finish with numerous small surface scratches and scrapes. The inserted throat and the frog lug are both intact. Also included is a nice quality, blackened leather construction bayonet frog with brass fittings. The frog consists of a roughly, 9" tall, 2" wide at its widest point and 1 1/2" 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 and an additional row of stitching running down the center of both the obverse and reverse. The bayonet pocket is stitched down sides with a central vertically oval front lug hole. The bottom edge of the top belt loop and the top edge of the bayonet pocket each have a brass rivet to each side. The frog shows is in overall good condition with an unusual, small, heavily chafed spot and a small puncture to the reverse of the belt loop. The frog has no visible manufacture’s markings.

GRADE ***1/2                             PRICE $135.00