Germany, Reichsbahn. A Reichsbahn Commemorative Dress Bayonet, by Anton Wingen Jr.

(Reichsbahn Bajonett). A very well-preserved Reichsbahn commemorative dress bayonet, measuring 355 mm in total length when inserted into the scabbard. It features a 200 mm-long magnetic metal blade with a sharpened tip and unsharpened edges. The blade presents with a fuller on each side, and is plain with the exception of a maker’s mark near the reverse ricasso of “A.W. JR., SOLINGEN” for the firm of Anton Wingen, Jr. It sits securely within a silver-plated upper crossguard, with a hooked quillon, which transitions into a one-piece hilt. The seam is covered by an intact brown leather buffer pad. The handle grip consists of two pieces of pebbled black bakelite, secured together by dual metal rivets. Set into the obverse is a silvered zink Reichsbahn insignia, measuring 25 mm (w) x 10 mm (h). It completes with an insertion slot retaining an original red wool liner, a functional spring catch with push-button release, and a curved pommel. The bayonet is accompanied by its period original scabbard, constructed of a black-painted magnetic metal shaft. The throat retains a functional spring catch, securely holding the bayonet in place during storage, and is held together by a single rivet. The outer edge bears a downward-pointing hook connecting to a period original black leather frog, looped for belt attachment and held together by a single magnetic metal rivet. While well-preserved, the bayonet displays some issues consistent with age and use, including loss of silver plating, material fatigue to the leather elements, and deterioration of the scabbard throat catch which renders insertion and extraction of the bayonet difficult. It is in an overall better than very fine condition.