A First War German Imperial Sawback Knife Bayonet

Measuring 405 mm in length with the scabbard on, this knife bayonet features a 250 mm long nickel-plated steel blade, magnetic, with a serrated blade and having a semi-sharp tip. There are fullers on both sides, the obverse ricasso marked with a crown over "ERFURT", the reverse ricasso maker marked "GEBR. HELLER MARIENTHAL" (Gebruder Heller, Marienthal). It retains its crossgraining, in addition to mild scratches overall, common to extraction and return to the scabbard, surface wear and rust spots evident on the blade, very fine. Crossguard stamped "1897" on its reverse, grip with embedded wooden plates and mortise slot, the plates held in place by two rivets, reverse of the pommel marked with the Fraktur proofmark, the knife bayonet measuring 383 mm in length. Accompanied by its metal scabbard, magnetic, with frog stud, ball finial, single screw in the throat, the scabbard measuring 270 mm in length and exhibiting scattered surface wear. Very fine. Footnote: Sawback bayonets were used by pioneer and machine gun troops, to clear vegetation and other obstructions. Sawback blades were also carried by non-commissioned officers (NCOs) as a symbol of rank.