private purchased German WWI Armeedolch

**jamoros** · 12-05-2016, 08:46 PM

Hi guys, what do you make out of this?, is this WWI period?, have read that these are not encountered very often, regards, Juan

**CBH** · 12-05-2016, 11:11 PM

It looks WWII to me , almost a factory converted dress bayonet made into a combat knife . I love the sheath .

**jamoros** · 12-05-2016, 11:15 PM

Thanks Chris, thought it was WWI, great you like it, think the Price is also good 140 Euros negotiable

**CBH** · 12-05-2016, 11:19 PM

I'm not up on prices these days , I'd wait for more opinions on that detail .

Looks very similar to a dress bayonet I used to have , but mine include mounting slot and conventional frog .

I believe it was Fireman bayonet , but I'm not sure . Good Luck

**rbminis** · 12-05-2016, 11:32 PM

This is likely a TR dress sidearm. The button gives it the appearance that it is a bayonet when worn but as stated, no mounting slot. This is the wrong sheath for this piece, it is for a fighting knife.
IMO, this was done to give the impression that this (less than complete dress sidearm) was worn as a fighting knife, hence, more desirable, (= more money). This is definitely a bayonet blade, not a fighting knife. I think the sidearm is nice and it is a shame that it is missing the button, which will be difficult to locate as it is not the same as a real bayonet button. The sheath appears nice and complete and might be worth the larger part of the 140. euros alone.
I believe I have one similar at home and will try to find it and upload photos later.
Ralph.

**rbminis** · 12-06-2016, 05:24 AM

Well, it appears that I do not actually have a TR example to show but I hope with these photos I will be able to show what I am talking about.

The top two fighting knives have no mortise slot or button.
The next three have a button but no mortise slot. (fake button).
The top five are fighting knives and have a different blade than the bottom three.
The bottom three have the bayonet blade, the Imperial stag handled one with nickel fittings has a working button and mortise slot. The black handled one second from the bottom has a non-working button,(fake button), but it has a mortise slot. The bottom one has no button but it has a mortise slot.

Could the one originally posted have been used as a fighting knife? Of course it could have but it is still not technically a fighting knife.
Ralph.

**jamoros** · 12-06-2016, 01:44 PM

Thanks Ralph for your great explanation and for showing all your knives and bayonets, so just to make sure I fully understand, the one I posted has a scabbard of a fighting knife, the blade is a bayonet most likely used as a fighting knife and both belong to the TR era, what about the button on the leather, is it original in your opinion?, if I may ask, what is the mortise slot, just tried to find out but do not suceed to know what is it, regards, Juan

If you didn t notice the blade is from maker Puma, also I assume that this one is worth collecting, just to make sure

**rbminis** · 12-06-2016, 02:04 PM

Hello Juan,
The sheath is likely a WW I item, as far as I know, all WW II fighting knives had a clip instead of a leather strap. The button on the strap may or may not be original, I am not sure as there are no markings that I can see. The mortise slot is the slot for attaching to a rifle.
IMO, it is still collectible, just not complete.

Ralph.

**jamoros** · 12-06-2016, 02:09 PM

Thanks Ralph, will get more pictures from the seller

**rbminis** · 12-06-2016, 03:48 PM

Maybe I should not have said that ALL WW II fighting knife sheaths had a clip as I am sure that someone will be able to prove me wrong.
Of course, this is all just my opinion.
There are many others who study these as much or more than I do. I just have a love for all things with sharp edges.

Ralph.