BACKGROUND: During the Third Reich period numerous blade manufacturers produced customized, private purchase versions of the S84/98 and KS98 bayonets for dress wear. The dress bayonets were manufactured with an assortment of minor optional variations with a long model, (9 7/8"), blade for enlisted personnel and a shorter, (7 7/8"), blade for NCO’s and Officer’s. Due to the dress bayonets similarity to the issue bayonets they experienced slow sales and the F. W. Höller firm of Solingen attempted to increase demand by marketing the dress bayonets as the "Pionier", (Engineer), models, although they were available to personnel in all branches of service. It is not known if the marketing strategy was successful in increasing sales but it did result in the dress bayonets commonly being referred to as "Pioniere Extrawaffe".

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Roughly, 7 7/8" (19cm) long, nickel/silver plated, drop forged, steel construction blade with narrow fullers to each side. Maker mared to WKC. The leather washer is present. The bayonet has a nickel/silver plated steel, cross guard with one up-swept arm, a flash guard and a stylized eagle head pommel. The bayonet has carved stag horn grips which are secured to the hilt by two dome headed aluminum rivets. The "TO" slotted, stylized eagle head pommel and stud button are all intact and functional. The bayonet comes complete with its original black painted, sheet metal scabbard. Original black lacquered dress frog is included.