UBB.threads Forums Edged Weapons The BCN Bayonet Forum Feldherrenhalle Bayonet

I wanted to post a few pics of something I picked up quite unexpectedly, a piece collectively referred to as a Feldherrenhalle bayonet.

Wayne Techet shows one on page 123 of "German Etched Dress Bayonets". Wayne states they have been attributed to NS student organizations but I'd love to hear more on their history as there doesn't seem to be much around on these pieces. I've seen maybe 6 for sale in the last 7 years so there can't have been that many out there. Anyone else out there have one?

This piece seems almost unissued as the only wear is a slight runner mark on the blade by the narrow blood groove. The burnish is near 100%, just a minute spot of burnish loss on the lower portion of the "E" in "Ehre".

Better shot of the motto.

Motto closeup, burnish is near 100%. Just a small spot missing where the runner hits the lower part of the "E" in "Ehre".

Reverse of the pommel with '35-'41 Eickhorn logo. Rivets appear completely period, the grip plates are perfect and completely flush to the hilt. Overall the piece is well made although the pommel is nonmagnetic indicating later manufacture.

Billy

Another nice piece. I have seen a couple of these, yours is one of the best condition ones I've seen. You did realize this isn't a Fireman bayonet . Does this mean that Denny and me have more competition for the ugly non Fireman bayonets.

TKissinger

Billy G., for sure NO Feldherrnhalle bajonet. Please look into the "Happy New Year !" thread by "aurelia", scroll down a little, where I show the exact brother of your bajonet and wherin the story behind these rare and desirable bajonets is written. I had to look quite a time to get one and was very glad when I finally succeded. Aprecciate always seeing another one.

Billy,

A very scarce KS98. I think that Wotan is right on the money with this identification as being related to the political school system instead of the Feldherrenhalle as previously suggested. I think the Feldherrenhalle designation came about because the motto was a secondary SA motto as I recall.

All made by Eickhorn and all with the same blade and etch. Here is mine.

George

Beautiful piece, Billy. I can't recall seeing one that nice - condition wise!

Thanks for the kind words Guys. I really dig the motto, Honor, Strength, Freedom. It really does sum up the NS zeit from the point of view of those involved, doesn't it? The price was right and I couldn't pass it up. Looks nice with the other new addition for 2006, no?

I presume the correct frog would be black patent leather but does anyone have an idea what type of troddel, if any, would be correct?

Terry & Denny,

Yup, I did realize that this one didn't have that recurned crossguard I love so much. But worry not, you guys still have the corner on the market on Heer and Luft bayonets, I'm not looking for any other non Feuerwehr pieces, except maybe a nice Luft Forestry one of these days when I get some money again .

This is only my second non FW bayonet but it's in fine company with the stag HJ honor piece it'll sit with soon. I really do get a jolt out of the up close beauty of these etched pieces, I can see the attraction you guys have for them.

Wotan,

Thanks for the name of the thread that originally showed yours, I knew there was one somewhere but I had trouble finding it. I did know the term "Feldherrenhalle" was sort of a modern name for the bayonet by virtue of the motto and not necessarily the official use for the thing but thanks for the info on the Reichs Schule, I was unfamiliar with the name.

George,

Yours is a great example as well, I don't think there's anything you're missing. This one really is a nicely conditioned piece, probably wasn't worn much if at all. The scabbard is minty as well, even the pommel is unscathed and it looks beautiful by itself. Those Eick guys really knew how to make things.

Billy G.

What a great example of the Strength,Honor Freedom dress bayonet most probably received as graduation awards from some Student League Schools in Third Reich Germany. These examples are quite rare however since they don't have what many would find a highly collectable etch they are often passed up UNTIL a specific buyer with some knowledge of exactly what these pieces were comes along. When researching my book the ONLY maker I ever found on these pieces was the 35-41 Eickhorn trademark. After the book was published I did locate (and have for sale) this IDENTICAL etch with the trademark of the J.A.Henckels Company. Henckels didn't have a line of etched bayonets for sale, however they did have some dress examples without etches available. What I think POSSIBLY happened here was that a Henckels salesmen took a small order from a Student School and since Henckels really didn't deal in this type of dress stock they asked and received a few unmarked pieces from Eickhorn to fill the order. Then made the salesman available for Wehrmacht duty! Just kidding.... The Eickhorn trademark is the one most seen on these pieces, however the J.A. Henckels Company did provide this EXACT etch in a much smaller number. Oh yeah, the Frog on the two pieces I have are the brown color to match the Student League uniform attire.

Von Ryan, please, can you show us pics from the HENCKELS piece? Thank you in advance.

Hi Wayne,

Many thanks for your insights and kind words. I always thought the etch on these pieces, while somewhat tame had a great message and stood for something like the mottos (mottoes?) on the SS, SA and NPEA daggers. What type of troddel would go with such a piece? Has anyone ever seen one with a troddel?

I used to dream that maybe I'd come across one that wasn't particularly recognized for what it was. That's what happened here, the seller didn't know exactly although he knew he had something "different". I didn't steal it by any means, actually the price was fair considering how much I wanted it and the overall condition. Thanks also for the frog info, I had thought the brown might be correct but wasn't sure.

What did you think of the other etched piece?

This bayonet is from the SA run school at Starnburg (?sp) in the Tigernsee area of Germany. The motto is the secondary motto of the SA.
Students at this school ranged from 6 to 18 years and is the only youth school that SA had during the period.
Bormann's son attended.
Eickhorn was the only maker of this bayonet and I have seen Eickhorn factory invoices from 1943 where 500 were ordered, so they were the supplies even into the war.
Pictures from the school in the period show students wearing a bayonet.
I would be highly suspect of the Henckels piece. If it is original, it was probably a prototype to try and get some of the school's business.
While these are rather rare and have been mis-identified over the years, it is a bayonet that can be found with some effort. All are in very nice condition usually.
Ron Weinand
Weinand Militaria

If someone is looking for one --Email me

Wotan,

Ok, here are a few photos of the pieces in my collection (inventory). That Eickhorn was the ONLY supplier of these bayonets to the school is now suspect. If this bayonet I have is a prototype then there were a least two prototypes. I have two, and I would love to tell all of you that I own the ONLY two J.A. Henckels HSF bayonets in existance, however all of us know different. The etch and hilts on both of the bayonets I have are IDENTICAL to the Eickhorn product.

The two overall HSF bayonets

Close-up of the J.A. Henckels TM

Closer look at Hilts

What is the approx. value of these bayo's?

Chief

Von Ryan, thank you so much for showing your highly interesting bayonets. I examined milimeter after milimeter of the inscription and I could find some very very minute differences between your HENCKELS and my EICKHORN. But they are here. This leads me to the conclusion that both were not made from exactly the same templates. It looks like each firm did use their own template in house.
Thank you again for showing, this is what keeps collecting most interesting for me. Never say never and nearly all is possible.