Hi everyone,

I've just purchased my first bayonet, and as I'm just starting out collecting, I was hoping for some feedback as to whether my first purchase is real or fake (I'm hoping it's real, but I'm prepared for the worst).

Cheers,
Darren

Looks good to me, Darren.

This is the mark used by Richard Herder on bayonets, I like it.

Two things going for this :

1) short bayonet is usually more scarce than the longer ones
2) Richard Herder is not a common bayonet manufacturer.

John

Hi John,

Thanks for the info John, much appreciated.

Being my first bayonet purchase, I was a bit worried that perhaps I'd made a wrong choice, but based on what you've written, I feel a LOT better.

I did a lot of research beforehand, but, still...

I'll post up some pics later tonight (Australian time) of a long Feuerschutz that I've just purchased.

Cheers,
Darren

Hi Darren, welcome to the club of bayonet collecting!!! Your life as you know it has been changed now forever. And its a beautiful thing. Two things real quick, first off, if you haven't any reference books in your possession, do yourself a favor and purchase one. John Z and most of the bayonet collecting community would highly recommend "German Etched Dress Bayonets" (Extra-Seitengewehre) 1933-1945 by Wayne H. Techet for starters. It will be the best $50.00 YOU EVER SPEND. Secondly, don't ever be afraid to reach out to forum members for advice/assistance. This facet of the hobby can dangerous. The fakers get better every day. Nothing to fear if you educate yourself. We are here to help. Best wishes,

Mat J

Hi Mat J,

Thanks for the post.

You're not wrong about it changing lives - I'm already thinking about my next purchase and where/how to store my (currently) limited collection. It really is quite addictive.

The book you mentioned is definitely on my list of things to get. I've done a fair bit of reading online and am taking a lot of notes for future reference. As I move into the more expensive items, I'll be even more cautious and will definitely be asking for advice.

The information and photos posted in these forums is incredibly helpful, and as I learn more, I hope to give back to the community as well.

Cheers,
Darren

A very Strong producer ..well done on your first find .

Regards Larry

Thanks Larry.