Here is a bayonet that I have had for many years and always wondered who and where he was. He seems to have kept a record of his location for the period 1.1.35 thru 31.3.1939 by self etching his location on his bayonet. I can not even figure out what branch of service he was in or what these etchings mean. Why did he kept this unusual record. Do any of you understand more about this? Thanks for any information anyone might have about this.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

Ok, to make it a bit easier to follow: Here is what the etching reads on this nice Puma Dress Bayonet:

Side one.

Jos. Maier S.S.W 1.1.35 - 28.3.35

T.S. 5 Komp. Adlersh. 28.3 - 15.7.35

Side two.

7. Komp. G- st. Lehrg. D.L.H. Trau. 15.7. - 2.1.36

FL. St. Schlesw. 3.l. - 7.12.36
K.A. Staffel 2/206 Holten 7.12.36 - 31.3.1939

L.D.K. Drivenow 65r 2039

Please anyone....what does all this mean? Thanks for any information anyone might have.

Jerry,

These are difficult to validate whether it was period done or not. I have many like these. I'm still studying this field of these fonts. Both lettering and numbering. The lettering looks ok, whether it's in the right order or not, that's for the European collectors to help you with. I didn't like the way the 3's looked, but I have one like it here as well. Gustavo has a thread of script and lettering, he's studying this as well. He does research on personalized daggers. Drop me an email and I'll find the threads. He helped with this one, it's a Luft heavy fighter.
Steve.

Jerry,

I really wish this thread had sparked some interest. They're kind of shunned by the collectors at the moment, but I like them. What I meant by the three's, some are straight across that look like a seven. If you want to turn loose of it, I could trade for something that you're more interested in. I like to study them. I have two here that are one on the fence as to weather they're right or not ( time period )IMO.

Steve.

Steve,
I agree with you about this being an interesting area of collecting albeit, fraught with danger. Here is another for your perusal. Courtesy of Gefr. Karl Helsper. Notice the three's.

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Denny,

I like it. Keep an eye on this thread. Over the weekend I'll try to post some pics of some variations. I also have a variation of in memory of service time, a bit old school way to say it I guess?

Steve.

Denny, as promised, but a bit late. Work's got me behind. Here's a few for the thread. Sorry bad picture day. A pot of coffee and a cat that wanted to be the main focal point of the pictures. First off three pics of the same Infantry, note the three's are straight across. I've seen it both ways, you'll see as we go thru. Steve.

pic 2

pic 3. The previous is the first Imperial cypher I've seen on a blade. Possibly a crown over FA. Sorry pics are out of order.

The next three pics are of the Luft I posted previously. This bayonet about had a diary on the blade. Both sides and the spine. Many airfields listed, at least six I found.

p5

p6

Pic 7. Two machine gun units. Obverse and reverse.

pic 8

Denny, here's two that are like yours with the oak leaves. Steve.

Pic 10

Here's three pics that I've posted in the past. Bought locally.

pic 12

Thanks Steve....
Those are outstanding pieces!!!!

Jerry....
Thanks for starting this interesting thread.

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Thanks Denny. I also have three here that are just named, and an artillery as well a Panzer. I'll have to get with Wotan on some of the grammer, I'm not too fond of it. Anything of that or SS run from first, then ask questions. . I guess I'm the only idiot that has more than one of these. I know what Wayne means when he says he loves this stuff. I guess just another addictive personality here.

Steve.

Hello Steve and Denny -

Thanks for all the input so far on this very interesting thread. I have noticed a kind of similarity in all of these different individual pieces... each bayonet is relatively simple and personal in both style of lettering and their etching technique. Even though they are all from different military units, they appear to have a similar method. Up until now, mine was the only bayonet where I have seen this individual style of etching recording the soldier's Dienstzeit. Also, I would have thought that it was Very against regulations for an elisted man to make these kind of additions to government equipment. By the way, now that I have seen these other bayonet etchings, I am no longer concerned with the way he made his (3's).

Good to hear from you Jerry. I thought you forgot about the thread. Don't sweat the 3's, look at all the other numbers and the style of the lettering. I like your piece. It has a lot going on with it. European collectors can help you with sorting out with what it can tell you. There's great guy's on this site. Steve.

Well, time to bring it up again. 9 years later, I am now planning to sell this fascinating bayonet. Are there any other interesting discoveries collectors have found since then?

How can you tell if these sometimes crude 'Engravings' are not post war done?

With Etched Dress Bayonets we have known period manufacturers reference as a guide to their originality.

You cannot positively prove that the "engravings" were not done postwar. However, by numerous comparisons to the many other original wartime versions, many of which have been shown here in this thread and other sources, you can determine the exact similarities. This can help you answer the originality or not.

I am fairly certain this one is pre wartime.

Jerry