UBB.threads Forums Edged Weapons The BCN Bayonet Forum Geco Dress Bayonet

Hi again Gents.
Please, help me in this situation."To Buy or Not to Buy?" As I understand it's uncommon maker but please, have a look at the bayonet condition. What do you think?
Thanks for all replies

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The condition isn't terrible, it would depend on the asking price. Geco stands for Gustav Genschow, a distributor in Berlin. Geco used two different marks that I've observed thus far, the one on yours & an etched variant that also mentioned Berlin as well.

From some period literature I've seen, I believed Geco was a distributor of Fire & Polizei ephemera. Both my examples are on fire bayonets & the few Geco bayonets I've observed over the years have all been on fire bayonets. Yours is the first KS98 I've seen with the mark. That alone would make me want it as it's a bit unusual.

The scabbard frog lug can always be replaced if it bothers you. As I said, it all depends on the asking price.

What kind of cross guard does your bayonet have, a or b.

cane you show a photo of that part of the cross-guard.

Thanks Gents!
I've asked the seller for additional pics, but as far as I can see this is A-type crossguard

Its obvious why I asked, some broken fireman cross-guards sometimes develop into Heer bayonets. If this is good, its also a first for me to see a GECO TM in that orientation. If you buy it, it would be easy to sell.

What can I say? Just let's wait for additional photos.

I'm still thinking about this bayo...
The plus is that press stud is present in the pommel

I think of this blade & hilt are in an original configuration that the bayonet is desirable but this is based primarily on my & Terry's love of obscure marks. There are many collectors that don't place such a premium on unusual marks & go strictly for condition. The condition of this bayonet isn't the best but I think the detractions could be overlooked.

One thing that popped out at me, it looks like the blade might have had a fine edge added to it by sharpening. Make sure to aka specifically if the blade was sharpened since it would pull some value off.

OK, Gents,
here are the photos

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and the blade
(Yes, Billy, you are absolutely right about sharpening)

I think the rivets have been replaced. Both sides of the grips show that the original rivets had larger heads. Looking closely there is a gap between the rivet and the hole. The domed side also seems to be recessed into the grip. I have included photos of one of my Geco for comparison. That said, I like the TM stamp

Or the grip plates have been replaced but finding some to fit a hilt is difficult. Yes a sharpen blade takes some value away from it, but that can be corrected. A sharping stone can dual a blade and buffing can hide the sharping of most blades.

Or the entire hilt may have been replaced with smaller rivets, which would be the best bet.

So it may have been a Firemans bayonet and now with a replace hilt it is now a Heer bayonet.

Sorry for my rambling thoughts.

Thanks and sorry for the delay in responding, I was waiting for more pics, so let me show you them for your consideration and final decision

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Note the spacing between the rivets & bakelite, they look redone to me. Not a terrible job, mind you, but not original. I think our original observation about seeing a Geco mark on a KS98 was well-founded, this blade probably started life as a Feuerwehr bayonet.

You know I have been known to buy a bayonet or two for the blades only, but that is when they are dirt cheap. If I was offered this to me as a parts bayonet I would be temped, but not as a complete original.

Thanks for the time you took to gather and post these photos. These type of posts helps us all to spot fakes or repros but they also helps the fakers.

The person selling this may not know that it has been altered. In my early years I got bit a couple times.

My Geco marked fire police.

Nice looking short model Geco, thanks for sharing it.