BACKGROUND: "Der Stahlhelmbund" (The Steel-helmet-league) was conceived as a national veterans’ organization by Franz Seldte in November of 1918, and was officially founded on Christmas day of that year. It was mostly comprised of WWI veterans trying to assimilate back into what was then a devastated society. The Stahlhelm became the largest of the post-war veterans’ groups, incorporating many of the smaller "Freikorps" groups into it. Most of its members were assimilated by the SA ("Sturmabteilung," or, Storm-troops) in 1933, and in late 1934 a sleeve diamond was introduced for SA uniforms denoting membership in the Stahlhelmbund. The league was disbanded in 1935, with its remaining members absorbed by the DRKB ("Deutscher Reichskriegerbund"), which, in turn, was absorbed by the NS-RKB ("Nationalsozialistische - Reichskriegerbund") in 1938. 

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Roughly, 25cm 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 the expected light scabbard runner marks. Blade is maker marked "E.Pack & Sohne Solingen" with their logo. 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 75% 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. One side of the grips has the "Der Stahlhelmbund" M16 helmet, while the other side has the unit number "6". The "TO" slotted, stylized eagle head pommel and stud button are all intact and functional. The bayonet comes complete with its original black painted, sheet metal scabbard that retains about 90% of its original black finish with a few small surface scratches and scrapes. The inserted throat, throat retaining screw and the frog lug are intact. Also included is a nice quality, original, brown leather construction bayonet frog. The is a single nail hole through the frog, no doubt from being hung on a wall at one time. Nice untouched example. These don’t turn up very often.

GRADE ***3/4                             PRICE $595.00