logo

 WITTMANN MILITARIA

PO Box 350 - 279 West Main Street - Moorestown, NJ 08057
856-866-8733(P) / 856-235-4954 (F)
 Home
 Inventory
 Contact Us
 Order

PicoSearch
Site Search by PicoSearch. Help

IMPERIAL BAYONET AND FIGHTING KNIVES

The Kaiser's Armies of WWI carried various combat bayonets designed to fit a designated rifle. Rifle types are indicated on the various bayonets being offered. Imperial troops and officers frequently carried a large variety of fighting knives. Some are made to resemble small bayonets while others are of boot or trench knife style. The shapes and types are indicated in the descriptions.


  1.  IMPBAY #28930C IMPERIAL "CRANKHANDLE" FIGHTING KNIFE - DeMag

    This This Crankhandle Fighting Knife is a classic example, and is identical to the one we show on page 324 of the Imperial book, by Johnson and Wittman. This crankhandle has the grip shape, which gives it its name. The grip appears to have been repainted long ago to the original Olive Drab paint job, but the skill of the paint job is lacking, as it looks like it was done with a brush. There are also some bare spots from wear on this paint job. Be that as it may, this is a fine original example, so most collectors could stomach the new paint job. The crankhandle, at the top, has a good working mortise and lock along with a good clear slot. These crankhandle fighting knives would actually mount on a K98 bayonet. The grip plates are held together with four rivets, all having finished heads on both sides. The crossguard area is a steel style, having a rounded quillon on one side, and the other side has an arch shape that allowed for the shape of the barrel to rest against it. There further is a hole between the cut out and the grip. This piece appears to have originally been a black painted color. The scabbard is a steel tube variety that is dent free. It is identical to the book example, but there is not much paint remaining on the obverse side, maybe only about 10%, and on the reverse side there is probably about 50% to 60% of the paint. The scabbard is equipped with the leather hanger and retainer loop. The leather is in still-good condition, being completely original, and also having a working snap on the retainer loop. The snap has the maker logo of a four petal-like flower. It appears to be the same as the example shown on page 324. The blade of this crankhandle is a 6” long type, having double edges, center ridge, and short ricasso. This blade is still nice and bright and easily grades in near mint condition, still having its crossgraining. There is only the most minor of age in this blade. It still retains its needle-like tip. The reverse ricasso is marked, “Gesetzlich/Geschützt”. This, of course, means there was a patent pending on the design. The obverse is stamped in a small circle that has the name of the company in capital letters, “DE MAG”, and the location of “Duisburg”. These crankhandle fighting knives are very desirable, and there are a lot of reproductions on the market. This one maybe not in a totally great condition, but the beautiful blade speaks well for the piece, and it is completely original. If you’re looking for a crankhandle, I hope that you’ll consider this example. A new paint job to the handle would probably make it a lot nicer, but I think that this painting was done a very long time ago, and could even be period. A good strong original example here.

    Excellent Plus. $495.00

  2. IMPBAY #25473 IMPERIAL KS98 SAWBACK BAYONET

     This Imperial Sawback bayonet shows a little bit of age and usage to the pommel area, but the side spine plates and quillon are still in good condition. The pommel shows a little bit of plating loss, but still would clean up nicely with minor effort. The mortise and lock buttons work well. The scabbard of this example is nice and straight, having good original paint. The paint shows some carrying time and a few chips here and there, but overall, it rates at about 80-85%. The lug is the style that is plain on the surfaces and has a pedestal at the bottom. The throat is slightly unusual in that I only see a built-in lip on one side. This is on the right side of the scabbard. The reverse is marked with a Regiment number, “13.H.911.” There are no other markings on this piece. The ten-inch blade is a fine bright example reflecting good nickel-plated surfaces. The upper spine is equipped with a very sharp sawback. This fine blade remains in a near mint state having only minor scratching here and here, but it would clean up nicely. The original blade buffer has gone to time. These sawback bayonets are always in demand and are great for display.

    Excellent Plus. $295.00

  3. IMPBAY #24407 IMPERIAL KS-98 DRESS BAYONET - WKC

     The hilt fittings of this example are beautifully plated, appearing to actually have a chromed surface instead of the usual nickel. This plating definitely appears to be period though, as there are no other chromed parts and the grip plates would have had to have been removed to have done such a job. Therefore, this plating is absolutely original. It is interesting to note that there is a rivet which has been positioned directly through the lower cross guard center area. This may have been done after the grip plates were returned to the piece to stabilize this example. Once again, though, this work also appears period. The mortise button and blade lock work excellently. The rifle slot has no felt in it, but it certainly would look good if someone replaced it, as it would compliment the rest of the condition. The grip plates are a black checkered Bakelite variety. They have the breather hole at the bottom of both sides. These plates are retained by three headless, flush mount rivets. A nice hilt here! The scabbard is mostly straight throughout, having a couple of carrying signs but not really any dents. The original paint has some old spidering and a couple of chips but, for the most part, is nearly all there and rates in near mint condition. Attached to this scabbard is an outstanding brown leather frog. This frog is still in very fine condition, having only a few scuffs which would be easily covered with some polish. The reverse has the quality single rivet construction in the center and the rivet is also covered with a brown tone to match the leather. A nice assembly here! The blade of this example is a polished type and it has mirror mint surfaces. It measures 10 inches in length and has wide fuller construction. This blade is in mint condition. The obverse is deeply stamped with the turn of the last century W.K. & C. marking. It consists of a king’s head next to a knight’s head. There is no washer on this piece. It does not look as though there ever was a washer. A very fine Imperial bayonet here.

    Near Mint. $295.00

  4. IMPBAY #26032 IMPERIAL FIGHTING / SKINNING KNIFE

     This Imperial fighting/skinner knife measures approximately 9.5 inches overall. The handle is made up of a piece of genuine stag. This antler material is a lighter color tan, having brown tones in the grain. It shows quite a bit of surface wear, so this piece was definitely used. At the top of the antler there is a plain cap which acts as a pommel. At the lower area, there is a ribbed ferrule. The blade is a 4.5 inch skinning type which has a ricasso which also acts as a quillon. The blade is single edged and shows some age in the surfaces, but no rust or pitting. This knife fits into a brown leather scabbard which is reinforced at the bottom area with double leather and a rivet at the tip. It is sewn up the rear, and at the throat area, has a combination belt loop and strap with snap which retains the knife by folding over the ricasso area when the knife is in place within the scabbard. This brown scabbard/sheath is in excellent condition. This example is similar to the one shown on Page 334, right, of the Johnson/Wittmann Imperial book.

    Excellent. $150.00

  5. IMPBAY #23246 IMPERIAL / WEIMAR SCALED DOWN BAYONET / FIGHTING KNIFE

     This edged weapon has a small proportioned hilt, which is fitted to a somewhat standard, stepped-edge, short blade. The interesting hilt is in the shape of a bayonet having a pseudo lug on the pommel. The pommel is effectively shaped to an eagle silhouette and the pseudo lug is quite high off of the surface. The finish to the hilt is black enamel over what could be a nickel base. The metal is very heavy but non-magnetic. This enamel is in outstanding condition being at 100%. The quillon area is a short stubby type similar to a Pioneer bayonet. This quillon is equal in length to the beak at the pommel. This example also has grip plates which actually are simulated as the plates are cut into the metal itself. This is a great job which is only noticeable if the hilt is turned to the side. Otherwise these grip plates look like the real thing even having two simulated rivets which have dressed heads on both sides. A great thing here! The scabbard itself is a standard short bayonet type which appears to have the typical WKC roach-like lug. The paint on this scabbard is original and is nearly 100%. This paint is in near mint condition as is the rest of this bayonet. The blade itself, as noted above, is a standard stepped end variety having narrow fuller. This blade is still in mint condition showing original crossgraining and fine mirrored surface. It is possible that this was one of the bayonet types made during the 1920's which were sold to World War I vets. It is most interesting and the first of its nature I have encountered. I am sure that this is a rare design and should be very desirable by Fighting knife / Bayonet collectors. Very unusual and a great looker here!

    Near Mint. $395.00 

  6. IMPBAY #23238 IMPERIAL WOOD GRIPPED TRENCH KNIFE

     This example appears identical to the piece which appears on page 321, lower, of the Johnson / Wittman Imperial Book. The book piece was produced by Hammesfahr and seems to be close to this example. The grip plates are wood slabs which are made from oak or some other hard wood. They are retained by three rivets having dressed heads on both sides. The book piece only has two rivets, but they look to be the same size as in this grip. There are nine notches cut into each side. The quillon is a steel type which is ovaled in shape. The quillon ends are very short on each side. The scabbard is the steel tube type having fairly good original black paint. This black paint has age in the surfaces, but for the most part, it is all there rating at about 99%. Attached to the reverse of the scabbard is a leather retainer loop having original working snap. This leather is still in serviceable condition. The blade of this example is a single edged variety being a 6-inch type, the same as the book piece. This blade is nice and bright and has a false edge coming back to about the halfway point. The blade surfaces are nice and bright and have good crossgraining. It is possible that this blade has been redone as the graining is not quite as uniform as a factory job would be. Whoever did this, though, was brilliant at this type of work. This blade appears mint in every way and is protected by a brown leather washer. Nice example.

    Near Mint. $225.00

  7. IMPBAY #23282 IMPERIAL KS98 LONG BAYONET - Alcoso

     The hilt of this example retains beautiful nickel plating despite its 100 year age. The nickeling is 100% throughout and still has its original luster. The mortise button and lock work well. The rifle slot has no felt in it. The grip plates are an outstanding bake-o-lite which have been finely checkered. These grip plates are in totally perfect crisp condition. They are retained by nickel rivets with dressed heads on the obverse. This quality hilt is a steel base. The scabbard is completely straight. This scabbard has a fine blued finish which still is at nearly 100% showing only the slightest bit of age. Great preservation here! The scabbard is equipped with a fine patent leather black frog. This frog does have some minor attic crazing, but it is not bad. The reverse of the frog is covered with a fine black felt. This felt does have some mothing at the left center area, but overall, it still remains at about 90%. This is a nice deluxe treatment to see and the frog appears original to this bayonet. The blade is a long style having wide fuller construction. This blade is a real beauty having 100% nickel plating and original factory luster. This blade is in full mint condition. The reverse ricasso is stamped with the trademark of this company. It consists of a set of scales with the firm's initials, "ACS" interspersed. This, of course, stands for the Alcoso firm. The original brown leather blade buffer is in place. There is a little nip to the leather at the area around the spine, but other than, this it is in good condition. A fine KS98 bayonet here.

    Near Mint. $250.00