The Fire Service Bayonet (Feuerwehr Seitengewehr) is a dress bayonet for ceremonial wear by Fireman with their dress uniform. All German government officials wore a dagger or bayonet sidearm (seitengewehr) with their dress uniform, a tradition that goes back around 400 years. Even though the Fire Service sidearm is not slotted or sprung for attachment to a rifle, it is never the less classed as a bayonet.
This is an extremely rare example of a long, saw-back Fire Service bayonet by Carl Eickhorn, Solingen, complete with its original leather frog and red & black Fire Service knot (Troddel).
The 248mm saw-backed blade has a single fuller below thirteen pairs of sharp saw teeth, terminating in a spear point. The blade is in fantastic, near mint condition with minor runner marks at the point from being drawn and sheathed. There are no nicks, damage or loss to the nickel plating.
The ricasso bears the 1935-1941 trademark of Carl Eickhorn.
The nickel-plated crosspiece and birds head pommel are in excellent condition with only minor wear to the plating at the ends of the crosspiece. The black chequered Bakelite grip scales are also in excellent condition and held firmly in place by twin rivets.
The black enamelled steel scabbard is in excellent condition. The scabbard is without dents or damage and has only a few small scratches on the edges. The bayonet sheathes and draws smoothly and is held firmly within the scabbard.
The bayonet is complete with its original black leather frog and its red and black Fireman’s bayonet knot. The knot and leather frog are in great condition.
