Germany, Heer. A Dress Bayonet, by Carl Eickhorn

(Heer Bajonett). An extremely well-preserved Heer dress bayonet, measuring 400 mm in length when inserted into the scabbard. It features a 250 mm-long magnetic metal blade with a fuller running the length of each side. The reverse ricasso bears an acid-etched maker’s mark of “ORIGINAL EICKHORN, SOLIGNEN”, circumscribing the firm’s logo of a squirrel clutching a sword. The blade sits firmly within a one-piece plated nickel-silver handle with a hooked quillon, with the seam covered by an intact brown leather buffer pad. The handle grip is composed of two pieces of pebbled black bakelite, held together by dual magnetic metal rivets. It completes with a slot retaining an original red felt liner and a functional push-button spring mechanism. The bayonet is accompanied by its period original scabbard, constructed of a black-painted magnetic metal shaft. The throat is held together by a single visible rivet and retains a functional spring catch, securely holding the dagger in place during storage. Underneath the throat, the shaft bears a downward-pointing clip which connects to a period original frog. Constructed of blackened leather, it consists of a single strip secured together in a loop for belt attachment by five magnetic metal rivets. The bayonet displays minor issues consisting with age and use, including some oxidation and loss of finish to the nickel-silver and metal features, but it is in an overall extremely fine condition.