Here's an unusual bayonet I picked up a while ago. It's double edged with a sharp blade akin to a fighting knife. The press stud is false and although it has a slot in the hilt, there's no hole to accommodate a cleaning rod. It has a 21cm blade and is 32cm over all (34cm with scabbard). The frog stud is brass and it has wooden runners. I haven't found much on it other than a few pics in books with descriptions of "rare" and "unknown maker". Anyone know about these? All comments welcome.

Cheers

Looks like WW1 officer dress dagger or SG.

Hello

I have about the same but the press stud is fonctional.
Regards
Alain

Yes, a nice private purchase variation of the KS98 often worn by Officers in liew of swords prior to the introduction of the Heer Officer Dagger. They were available with either the black painted finish or the nickeled finish.

Thanks guys. So these are as early as WWI?

Alain, that's a nice looking example. The blade looks the same, but with a different hilt and bakelit grips as you say. Is the frog stud brass on yours? Is the blade sharp?

Klinge and TimL

I have always wanted one of those, but I never have found one at a reasonable price. Nice bayos.

I got lucky and bought four nice bayonets at reasonable prices from a guy who sells estate items, he had a collection he was selling off. Maybe you guys could help with the Eickhorn's unit mark, "U.G.E.44.". Any ideas? I've had the suggestion "Unteroffizierschule Glogow".

Hello

Mine has a frog stud made of steel and the blade is not sharpened.
Best regards
Alain

OK I give up. What does U.G.E. stand for? Maybe Orpo can shed some light on it

This is an odd marking that I cannot find listed anywhere. First off, the steel KS98 has a police style of pommel with a T cut instead of the T/O cut generally found on military bayonets. This means it fits on an older Kar98a rather than a newer Kar98k. It is not a Reichswehr marking for a troop depot because the U does not have an umlaut and the three letters make no particular sense in that regard. All the Unteroffizer Schule markings I have seen have two letter designations begining with U then a single letter designating the school. It is too late to be an Ulanen marking. I suspect it is an unknown police/security/prison organization designator.

Alain - that's a very nice looking piece, thanks for posting the pics. I hope to come across one sometime to add to my collection.

Thanks for looking at the KS98's marking ORPO. It's an interesting piece, hopefully the mystery will be solved one day.