Germany, Heer. A Service Memory Dress Bayonet, by Ernst Pack & Söhne

(Heej Bajonett). Measuring 400 mm in total length when inserted into the scabbard. It features a 250 mm-long magnetic metal blade with a sharpened tip and unsharpened edges. Each side of the blade has a fuller, while the obverse bears an acid-etched inscription of “ZUR ERINNERUNG AN MEINE DIENSTZEIT” (“IN MEMORY OF MY SERVICE TIME”) in Fraktur script. The inscription is flanked by a depiction of a uniformed Heer soldier blowing a trumpet. The reverse ricasso is maker marked “SIEGFRIED WAFFEN” and “E. PACK & SÖHNE, SOLINGEN”, flanked by the firm’s blacksmith logo. The blade sits securely within a silver-plated non-ferrous metal crossguard with a hooked quillion, in turn transitioning into a one-piece hilt. The seam of the blade and crossguard is covered by an intact black leather buffer pad. The handle grip is composed of two pieces of pebbled black bakelite, secured together by dual magnetic metal rivets. It completes with a hook pommel, an insertion slot retaining an original red felt liner, and a functional spring catch with push-button release. It is accompanied by its period original scabbard, constructed of a black-painted magnetic metal shaft. The throat is held together by a single rivet and retains a functional spring catch, securely holding the bayonet in place during storage. The shaft features a downward-pointing hook connecting to a period original frog, constructed of multiple pieces of blackened leather secured together by four magnetic metal rivets and shaped into a loop for belt attachment. While very well-preserved, the bayonet demonstrates some issues consistent with age and use, including running marks to the blade, some loss of silver finish to the applicable features, in addition to some oxidation and loss of paint to the scabbard and fatigue to the frog. It is in an overall better than very fine condition.