Municipal Police Bayonet by Luneschloss – D780

This listing is for an excellent Weimar Republic bayonet, with the typical conversion to a Nazi era police dress edged weapon. As many collectors know, these edged weapons were initially issued with a longer blade, and equip with clam shell crossguard. During the 3rd Reich period these bayonets were re-purposed to be used as dress edged weapons for the German police force, now headed up by the Reichsfuhrer Heinrich Himmler.

The expertly trimmed and fitted stag grip plates on the hilt of this bayonet are in excellent condition. They remain tightly riveted to the spine, and beautifully matched in color, as well as texture. A good looking aluminum police style of eagle now sits firmly where the imperial starburst emblem once lay. For a softer metal emblem, the detail to the bird and wreath features remains in very nice condition. On the crossguard now void of the imperial clam shell, the reverse is stamped with the number 24. A stunning silvered eagle pommel also with fantastic detail, completes the pommel of this edged weapon.

Many times the scabbard to these 3rd Reich police bayonets are crease or severely misshaped. And the reason is, that they were inexpensively  constructed to accommodate the cut down shorter blades which became the style for the newly re-issued bayonets. But the scabbard to this edged weapon is  truly in wonderful shape. It remains straight, with exceptional period black covered leather, displaying just light wear overall. The upper and lower fittings remain in good order, void of any hits or misshaping. At the top of the shell is an early frog that this bayonet came with. Though the leather shows it’s age and crazing, all the stitching is intact, as are the rivets too. The reverse is maker marked and dated 1928.  On the reverse of the upper scabbard fitting and hidden by the hanger, is an X’ed out number. Below that former number is the stamped numeral 24. This bayonet apparently is a police depot piece, as that number matches the stamped 24 on the reverse of the crossguard. Pretty neat the German history era that this bayonet went through from Weimar to 3rd Reich, then converted to municipal depot police.

Lastly the blade. Where many times the tips of these 3rd Reich police bayonets were rather crudely cut shorter and then re-pointed, the blade to this edged weapon though not totally perfect, is pretty damn decent. It has the slightest discoloring to the tip end, and that is basically it. The plating to the rest of this blade is absolutely gorgeous! On the reverse is the trademark which collectors will see associated with these Nazi era converted depot pieces. And that is the P.D. Luneschloss name and location.

A beautiful 3rd Reich Police Bayonet, without a doubt.    SOLD