Afrika Korps-Luftwaffe etched bayonet

[Steve Flanagan]

This one seems over the top to me, came in with the hunting dagger also listed, guys deceased dad was a collector so mix of good and bad, usually the more "bells and whistles" an item has, the more nervous I get. What do you think of this one,

Thanks

[Steve Flanagan]

2

2

[Steve Flanagan]

3

3

[Steve Flanagan]

4

Sorry for limited photos but took these at show, not much time.

[Steve Flanagan]

5

5

[Billy G]

Steve,

The bayonet is 100% legitimate & period. The etch, however, is 100% postwar, sorry. Many of these were made in England in the 1960's. Some of them show really excellent detail & they've developed a following all their own but sadly they'll never be pre-1945. If you could snag one cheaply, I'd say it would make a nice letter opener but unfortunately most are being sold as period peices at period prices.

[Steve Flanagan]

Bayo

Thanks Billy, its why I now carry a digital camera with me at the shows, I didnt give this one any credibility,,,the hunting dagger appealed enough to take photos, but this one didnt, even had the beginnings of a bowie tip to upper edge at tip

[rajko84]

This one I did not see before. This is like the SS bayonets, the etching is exactly same type. Same people did this one too. They are still cool looking.

[Frogprince]

As was already mentioned a postwar etch on an original bayonet, from the look of the bayonet/serial number it looks like it might be from after the DAK ceased to exist. Who's the maker and what is the date? FP

[777]

These fake etching K98s seem to be sooo well known, but still they deceive many people

[JamesT]

Is it fair or true to say that combat K98s were NEVER engraved in this way or are there some genuine examples about? "For loyal service" that sort of thing. It strikes me that there was such a strong tradition of parade bayonets that there was no need to start engraving combat bayonets.

What do you think?

Jmaes

[Richie B]

or are there some genuine examples about?

James

In a word - No.

Regards

Richie

[Bob Hritz]

These were etched and sold by Brian the Bayonet King. There were about 3 dozen different etches I have seen. I have collected a few over the years.

Brian bought thousands of surplus bayonets and produced these dubious 'treasures' which continue to fool the uninformed, even today.

Bob Hritz

[will jones]

It makes me VERY sad to say this , my father used to collect militaria in the 50s60s and 70s , and was with his friend a prolific collector of genuine ss items(makes me quite sick now i have the bug) , on the flip side of this, the two of them were craftsmen , graphic designers,model makers etc etc , and i remember quite clearly in the late 70s helmets everywhere that they were painting ,and no doubt making them what they were not , as well as all sorts of other german kit, why they were doing this i dont know? did us brits think in 30/40 years this stuff was going to be this expensive? i remember what the good stuff he had was cos when i played with it i got bollocked , sadly my interest in german militaria came too late to ask him what the reasons were behind it all , money at that time was not a problem for us as a family, we will never know , i think what i'm trying to say with this is that , i know my dad and his mate really cared about a good result , just the same as this guy making these fantasy etched combats(most of them are good quality looking items)...
BTW he's still alive , i just dont talk to him lol..