UBB.threads Forums Edged Weapons The BCN Bayonet Forum CROSSED RIFLES - EICKHORN - INFANTERIE REGIMENT UNITS

At the MAX show I seen a over the shoulder Eickhorn TM on an HJ with a 42 date. Don't know if this helps or not.

Terrry, The HJ is consistent with others that have been reported. 1942 dated items for sales to the public (ie: not military issue) are on the scarce end of the spectrum. Apparently from only at the beginning of the year, and not in large quantities. I will have to find the reference again - but as I recall steel was being restricted only for military uses. Regards, FP

Great thread, one I have enjoyed reading and learning from. I have a DJ Hirschfänger with an etched blade that has a presentation on the rear of the top scabbard mount dated 1942, all the fittings are blued, I also have a Forestry cutlass like the one shown by Hubertus with the post 1941 Eickhorn mark. Any etched blade after 1941 is extremely rare, anything in 1942 is exceptionally rare in my opinion.

Gary

The trademark for sure has to be set into the III.R period. This one came with several other bagged and tagged daggers directly out of a EICKHORN retailer shop which has been closed towards the end of the war. To avoid any misunderstandings: This bayonet has a plain blade.
Concerning etched bayonets time frame: Those etched remembrance and unit etched bayonets were bought during peace times, when they had done their duty (at a certain unit) and went back into private life. As this was not the case any more during war (at least for the huge mass of soldiers) the sense for any remembrance etching was lost and therefore not used any more. Perhaps very very few exceptions do exist which I have not seen until yet.

Came with bag and tag.

It is known by certificate that in the NPEA School System that daggers continued to be issued through March of 1943. I have this document with this date listed.
Also, the student told me that in March of 1944 daggers were issued at that time.
So don't be too quick to say that daggers were not utilized after 1942 because they were.
These documents will be in my NPEA Book revision.
Ron Weinand
Weinand Militaria

Wotan, A very nice (and desirable) late dress bayonet !! Besides no etching, the blade looks to be polished steel. Or am I misreading the image?

Ron, The NPEA documents mentioned for me would be one of the high points of the revised book, although I’m sure it will have many more. Speaking generally, original source material with some books is a rarity. When original source material is included it doesn’t leave much room for speculation or doubt as to how the Germans actually handled certain matters.

From my own perspective there is a difference between when an item was made with either an established, or approximate, cutoff date if manufacture of same was terminated. And previously manufactured items still being used or still existing as unsold items in a sales distribution channel (like Wotan’s bayonet).

For example swords are seen at state funerals fairly late in the war. However, Himmler issued a directive in 1942 stating that Honor Swords were no longer be conferred because they could not be made citing steel shortages. If the SS could not get an exception who could ?? Regards to All, FP

FP, you are right, I am sorry the image is not the best concerning material details: The blade is a nickled one like all other common walk-out-dress-bayonets. Just the bad scan does make another impression.