A Heer "In Memory of My Service" Etched Bayonet by Carl Eickhorn, Solingen

This fine bayonet features a 200 mm long nickel-plated steel blade, magnetic, with a dull edge, remaining bright and crisp, with fullers on both sides, a diamond-shaped end and having a very sharp tip. The obverse is acid etched with a flowing ribbon banner inscribed "Zur Erinnerung an meine Dienstzeit" (In Memory of My Service) surrounded by oak leaves, with Wehrmacht eagles at either end. It retains its crossgraining, in addition to mild scratches overall, common to extraction and return to the scabbard, and a natural shine, exhibiting multiple contact marks and scratches on the diamond-shaped end, along with wear evident above and below the Wehrmacht eagle to the left of the ribbon banner, the blade rating very fine. Black finished leather washer remains relatively supple and is intact. Crossguard, quillon and pommel with light contact in the nickel plating, the pommel and spine exhibiting flaking. Both plates of the black synthetic grip are firmly held in place by two rivets and central pins, the obverse plate with a silver-nickel Wehrmacht eagle affixed between the pins. The dagger comes with a red felt insert in the tang and measures 318 mm in length. Accompanied by its black metal scabbard, magnetic, with frog stud and ball finial, the throat plate held firmly in place by a single screw, the scabbard measuring 225 mm in length, exhibiting contact marks and surface wear. The dagger in its 50 mm x 208 mm unmarked black leather holster, exhibiting wear patches near the frog stud, along with light crazing, contact marks and wear overall. Very fine.