Germany, Heer. An NCO/Officer’s Etched Dress Bayonet, by Carl Eickhorn

(Heer Offiziers Bajonett). A very well-preserved Heer NCO/Officer’s commemorative dress bayonet, measuring 400 mm in total length when inserted into the scabbard. It features a 250 mm-long polished magnetic metal blade with a sharpened tip and semi-sharpened lower edge. Each side of the blade has a single fuller, while the reverse ricasso is maker marked “ORIGINAL EICKHORN, SOLINGEN”, along with the Eickhorn firm’s logo of a squirrel clutching a sword. An intact blackened leather buffer pad covers the seam of the handle, which is composed of a single piece of silvered zink alloy and features a hooked quillon. The handle has an insertion slot with a functional push-button spring catch for rifle attachment. Two pieces of pebbled black bakelite comprise the grip, and are safely secured together by dual magnetic metal rivets. The bayonet is accompanied by its period original scabbard, constructed of a black-painted magnetic metal shaft with a rounded tip. A downward-pointing hook emanates from the outer edge of the shaft for attachment to a frog. The throat retains a functional spring catch, securely holding the bayonet in place during storage, which is in turn held in place by a single side rivet. While very well-preserved, it demonstrates some issues consistent with age and use, including running marks to the blade, oxidation and loss of finish to the hilt, and possible repainting of the scabbard. The bayonet is in an overall near extremely fine condition.