Here we have an excellent example of a late-war German WW2 K98 bayonet, produced by Carl Eickhorn, Solingen – one of the main German edged weapon manufacturers of the period, renowned for their high-quality bayonets and dress daggers. This example is dated 1944 and remains in excellent condition throughout.

Blade:

The blade is mint, and quite literally looks as it would have the day it left the Eickhorn factory. It retains its full original machining marks and the characteristic course late-war finish typical of 1944 production, when speed and efficiency replaced the finer polished bluing of earlier years. The surface displays that unissued look, with no signs of sharpening or post-war cleaning, and forming into a sharp factory tip. The ricasso is clearly maker-marked “cof 44” for Carl Eickhorn, and serial-numbered 0526 on the reverse.

Hilt & Grips:

The wooden grips are superb, showing no splits or damage and firmly held by two screw bolts. The pommel retains a fully functioning rifle catch with two Waffenamt stamps above. The crossguard, flashguard, and hilt show the original factory finish, with no signs of wear.

Scabbard:

The scabbard remains straight but does have several faint indentations, which are very minor and only noticeable upon close inspection. It has lost its original bluing, yet still presents very well. The original throat screw is present, and the scabbard is stamped on the reverse “cof 42” (Carl Eickhorn) with a low number 33 on the front. Although the numbers do not match the blade, it’s a bonus that both are from the same maker.

Frog:

Accompanied by an original wartime K98 leather frog, all stitching is tight and intact with four rivets present. The leather remains strong and in very good condition.

Overall:

An excellent condition late-war 1944 K98 bayonet by Carl Eickhorn (cof), complete with its original frog and a mint, unsharpened blade that still appears factory-fresh.

Historical Note:

By 1944, German bayonet production had shifted toward practicality as materials and time grow scarce. The refined polish and blued finishes of early-war production were replaced by coarser machining and simplified methods. Carl Eickhorn remained one of the most prolific Solingen manufacturers, and maintained higher quality than most even as the wartime constraints increased.