WWII GERMAN LUFTWAFFE BAYONET - BONE HANDLE ETCHED BLADE The Luftwaffe issued bayonets for parade purposes. The individual soldier would take it upon himself to find a shop that could adorn the blade with fine etchings. most soldiers did not have the money or inclination to obtain one of these bayonets, therefore their numbers are lower and are harder to find. The design was based on the K98 bayonet. The parts look identical but these bayonets are not meant for combat. They do not have the mechanism to attach to a rifle. The item featured here is an example of one of the edge weapons of the Third Reich.

Closeup view of airraft flying over a mountanous landscape.

View of the entire blade design.

This picture shows a closeup of the etching on the blade. The design is that of an early Luftwaffe eagle. Very high quality construction. There were several patterns available from the factory. choices were usually dictated by taste and financial ability. The factory catalogs would show the selection of etching designs that could be ordered. WANT TO LEARN MORE? FAQ's Dagger and sword anatomy Edge weapon RZM numbers German Dagger hangers Edge weapon maker markings Hilt markings German edge weapon materials Perspective view Purchasing a dagger Notice that the tail of the eagle in this etching is pointing downward. This is known as the "droop tail" style. It is indicative of the early days of the Luftwaffe. In later years the design was changed to point more upwardly.

This edge weapon is currently being reproduced. It is becoming more difficult to be able to tell the fake ones from the real ones because the quality of the reproductions is improving. The collector must become familiarized with the construction style and materials employed in the manufacturing of edge weapons. Attention to the details is critical in order to be able to determine the authenticity of the item.