A German Etched Dress Bayonet by Paul Seilheimer, Solingen

A German Etched Dress Bayonet by Paul Seilheimer, Solingen - Measuring 345 mm, with the scabbard on, this dagger features a 200 mm nickel-plated steel blade, magnetic, with unsharpened edges, remaining relatively bright and crisp, and having a dull tip. It is engraved "Zur Erinnerung an meine Dienstzeit" (In Memory of my Service Period) on the obverse of the blade, flanked by an Army (Heer) eagle insignia on the left and an Air Force (Luftwaffe) eagle insignia on the right, the type and insignias each separated by clusters of oak leaves, with full length fullers on both sides. The reverse riccaso is maker marked Paul Seilheimer, Solingen, with the company's upper case initials "P" and "S" flanking the handle of a downward pointing sword, along with "SOLINGEN" in upper case letters inside an inverted triangle. It exhibits surface wear and contact marks, in addition to scratches overall, common to extraction and return to the scabbard, and a natural shine, measuring 323 mm in length, near very fine. Thick black finished leather washer remains relatively supple and is intact. Crossguard with quillon and pommel exhibit light contact and gilt wear, while both plates of the black synthetic grip are firmly held in place by two rivets and central pins. Accompanied by its black metal scabbard, magnetic, with frog stud, metal locket at the blade entry end held in place by a single screw, ball finial, attached to a supple black leather frog, with heavy, durable, quality stitching, scabbard and frog measuring 50 mm x 355 mm, the scabbard with multiple contact marks overall, loose frog stud, crazing and light wear evident throughout on the frog. Very fine.