Puma KS98 dress bayonet, 25cm blade and troddel

**Anderson** · 12-13-2018, 04:31 AM

A fairly bog standard Puma dress bayonet with the long (25cm) blade, though the scabbard is a blued unmarked, unnumbered "commercial" type that has the patina of TR. Was it bought by the original bayonet owner? We'll never know, but possible as the Military Outfitter shops are likely to have sold these commercial blued versions of the scabbard.
Troddel is a period one for 4th company of 1st Bataillon, but if the stengel (stalk) is actually yellow and not stained white, it would be 3rd Bataillon.

Puma KS98 dress bayonet, 25cm blade and troddel

**Espenlaub Militaria** · 12-13-2018 04:31 AM

We also buy and trade your items and full collections!

**Larry C** · 12-13-2018, 10:59 AM

Here are couple of questions :

1. was it producer choice to blue or paint scabbards ?
2. when did the widely seen black painted types appear?
3. was this a special order or the beginning of a production process only to be changed to the black paint and these were left over?

I have a Puma long and a Tiger short which coming from the same Lauterjung family I find intriguing.

a. Did the Lauterjungs before they shipped these to the outlets order these scabbards from outside contractors and a batch of these blued finish types were sent to them ...or was it requested by Lauterjung.

I ask these questions for discussion purposes as the Edged Weapon producers of this time were interwoven with each other along with the same sub contractors.

Regards Larry

**gerrit** · 12-13-2018, 01:15 PM

Nice Bayo Anderson!
Fittings are in great condition, although a pretty common one, its in great shape and makes a nice addition to your collection.

Regards
Ger

btw
i received my forestry gem last monday, the one that will blow you away, as promised

i will try to post that damast HF with gold panel etch tomorrow if i can find the time

**Anderson** · 12-13-2018, 08:41 PM

All good questions Larry. The issue of unmarked blued scabbards with a KS98 parade bayonet is one that is debated by collectors. My understanding is that the producers like Puma would sell the bayonet with a painted scabbard to the Military Outfitter shops where most soldiers bought these bayonets. Though it's also believed they were sold through the regimental mess as well. The shops are believed to have sold these unmarked blued scabbards which as a buyer's option you could replace the painted scabbard for the more durable finish of a blued scabbard. However with special orders like etched bayonets a blued scabbard was also an option from companies like Eickhorn. The "commerical" (for want of a better word) scabbards are likely to have been made by another contractor. Some collectors believe where you find a dress bayonet with a blued, unmarked scabbard they were matched up post war by some veteran or collector. But again it's not something we can be sure off one way or the other.
Black painted dress bayonet scabbards actually date back to the time of First World War.
Wayne Techet in his book "German etched dress bayonets" shows an example with a factory ordered blued bayonet. Other maker catalogues show a delux leather scabbard with steel fittings was also available with special honour type bayonets.