Dress bayonet question!

[fallingskies]

My parents picked this up for me. It's a vet being back from 1944.
I can't find any markings at all. Any info is much appreciated.

[zwerge]

It`s a KS98 dress bayonet for firemen(Feuerwehr).....Pete.

[fallingskies]

The vet said it came from a POW. Why would this be out in the field of battle?

[Walkwolf]

These are dress bayonets, and would not have been used in
or on a battlefield. The Vet could have aquired it in many
different ways - like trading for cigarettes, etc.

POW's are routinely relieved of weapons and other
items as they are processed.........

[Larry C]

I have to agree with Walkwolf as most edged weapons were scattered through out the country,, so it could of been picked up anywhere. Your bayo looks to be in good condition. Regards Larry

[gerrit]

It looks like the scabbard has been painted.
The proper way to put it in the scabbrd and wear it is shown on the picture below:
Cheers Ger

[Billy G]

Is there a maker's mark on the blade? The hilt looks like a Klaas product.

[fallingskies]

No makers marks anywhere. That's why I was a little suspicious at first.

[Billy G]

Many of these bayonets as well as other KS98 dress bayonets were unmarked as to maker. This is not dispositive as to authenticity. This bayonet, based on the hilt configuration looks to have been made by Richard Klaas, a well known maker of edged weapons. Not that you're selling it but unmarked items do tend to not sell as well on the market.

[kirby]

In most German towns the Americans and British ordered people to turn in their weapons. A lot of solders just picked through the pile and took what they wanted. I remember an article in Military Trader that gave this as the reason that there is a lot more German daggers and edged weapons in the US than in Germany.