This exceptional Alcoso KS98 double-etched dress bayonet is a scarce privately purchased Wehrmacht sidearm manufactured by Alexander Coppel – ALCOSO, Solingen. Most importantly, the long blade carries extensive military decoration on both sides, placing it considerably above an ordinary unetched or single-etched KS98.
One blade face features the traditional service-remembrance inscription “Zur Erinnerung an meine Dienstzeit”. The opposite face displays additional military imagery associated with machine-gun and anti-tank or PaK troops.
Furthermore, the bayonet remains complete with its black lacquered steel scabbard and attractive period brown leather dress frog.
The combination of Alcoso manufacture, long blade, elaborate double etching and surviving suspension equipment makes this a highly desirable example for the advanced German edged-weapons collector.
Catalogue price: €2,750.
€ 2.750
1 in stock
This exceptional Alcoso KS98 double-etched dress bayonet is a scarce privately purchased Wehrmacht sidearm manufactured by Alexander Coppel – ALCOSO, Solingen. Most importantly, the long blade carries extensive military decoration on both sides, placing it considerably above an ordinary unetched or single-etched KS98.
One blade face features the traditional service-remembrance inscription “Zur Erinnerung an meine Dienstzeit”. The opposite face displays additional military imagery associated with machine-gun and anti-tank or PaK troops.
Furthermore, the bayonet remains complete with its black lacquered steel scabbard and attractive period brown leather dress frog.
The combination of Alcoso manufacture, long blade, elaborate double etching and surviving suspension equipment makes this a highly desirable example for the advanced German edged-weapons collector.
Catalogue price: €2,750.
The blade is unquestionably the principal feature of this bayonet.
Many KS98 dress bayonets survive with plain blades. Others display a decorative service-remembrance panel on one face only.
By contrast, this example carries elaborate etched decoration across both blade faces.
One side incorporates the inscription:
“Zur Erinnerung an meine Dienstzeit”
Translated into English, this means:
“In remembrance of my service time.”
The lettering sits within an extensive ornamental field incorporating oak leaves, military symbolism and Wehrmacht-era national eagles.
Decoration on the reverse continues the military theme. Detailed imagery includes representations associated with machine-gun crews and anti-tank or PaK troops.
Therefore, this should be catalogued as a deluxe double-etched Alcoso KS98, rather than simply an etched Wehrmacht bayonet.
A particularly important comparison appears in the Ratisbon’s militaria price archive.
Ratisbon’s documented a long-pattern Alcoso KS98 featuring:
That closely comparable example sold for €2,740 in November 2023.
View the documented example at Ratisbon’s – Alcoso Double-Etched KS98 PaK/MG Bayonet.
This documented result provides strong support for the €2,750 catalogue price applied to the present example.
The ricasso carries the distinctive:
ALCOSO
A.C.S.
scales trademark
SOLINGEN
This trademark identifies the manufacturer as Alexander Coppel of Solingen.
The scales emblem remains clearly visible and forms an important authentication characteristic.
Alexander Coppel was one of Solingen’s established edged-weapon manufacturers. The company produced numerous military and dress weapons, while the ALCOSO trademark became one of the recognised names encountered on German military blades.
Further manufacturer information can be viewed through the DG.DE Alexander Coppel / Alcoso maker reference.
This example uses the visually impressive long-blade KS98 configuration.
A broad polished blade incorporates a pronounced central fuller before terminating in the traditional spear-shaped point.
The additional blade length gives considerably more space for the complex etched scenes. Consequently, both decorative panels have substantial visual impact.
Ratisbon’s records its comparable double-etched Alcoso example at approximately 40 cm overall, identifying it as the long version.
Long etched examples have particular appeal when combined with unusual double-sided decoration.
Two black checkered synthetic grip plates form the centre of the hilt.
Their deeply moulded diamond texture remains well defined. Both securing rivets also remain correctly positioned.
Above them sits the characteristic bird’s-head pommel.
The bayonet retains its functional-style mortise button within the pommel. Meanwhile, the nickel-finished guard terminates in the familiar upward-curving quillon.
Moderate surface marks remain visible on the metal fittings. However, these are compatible with the overall age and use of the piece.
The etched decoration is considerably more complex than that found on a standard remembrance bayonet.
Oak-leaf borders frame the principal panels.
Military eagles appear within the decorative scheme, while detailed military equipment and troop scenes occupy the central sections.
The PaK and machine-gun imagery provides a particularly strong military character.
Such decorative bayonets were privately purchased rather than standard combat issue. Owners could select different levels of finish, blade length and etched decoration.
Consequently, double-etched examples represented a much more elaborate option than the ordinary plain-blade KS98.
Further examples of period etched Wehrmacht dress bayonets can be viewed through Helmut Weitze – German Edged Weapons.
The bayonet retains its black-finished steel scabbard.
Glossy black lacquer survives strongly over the body. Light surface marks remain visible, although the overall presentation is particularly attractive.
No major dents or deformation are apparent from the supplied photographs.
The lower scabbard finial remains intact.
Correct black-painted scabbards are documented on comparable original Alcoso dress bayonets, including the double-etched Ratisbon’s example.
An especially attractive feature is the surviving brown leather dress frog.
Substantial leather forms the belt loop and fitted scabbard support. Period-style stitching follows both shaped edges.
A front retaining arrangement secures the scabbard throat correctly.
The leather displays natural brown colour variation together with darker edges and areas of wear. Its surface has developed an attractive patina associated with age and use.
Importantly, period Wehrmacht dress bayonets are documented with brown as well as black leather frogs.
Therefore, the brown colour should not be interpreted as evidence of an incorrect modern replacement.
The surviving frog considerably improves the completeness of the bayonet.
The KS98 dress bayonet occupied a very different role from the standard German combat bayonet.
Privately purchased examples were intended principally for walking-out dress, parade use and formal uniform wear.
Servicemen could purchase examples in different qualities according to personal preference and financial means.
Plain blades represented the simpler option. Decorative etched examples cost considerably more.
Service-remembrance inscriptions allowed the owner to retain a personalised souvenir of military service. Military scenes, unit-related imagery and national symbols could also form part of the design.
The present Alcoso is particularly notable because this decoration appears on both sides of the blade.
The traditional inscription reads:
Zur Erinnerung an meine Dienstzeit
or:
In remembrance of my service time.
This wording appears on numerous privately purchased German service souvenirs of the period.
However, the significance of the present example extends beyond the inscription itself.
Here, the motto forms only one part of an unusually extensive double-sided decorative programme.
Consequently, the blade should be assessed on the total quality and rarity of its etching rather than on the inscription alone.
Visible characteristics form a highly coherent period package.
Important positive features include:
Most importantly, a closely comparable double-etched Alcoso example is documented by Ratisbon’s.
The overall assessment is therefore strongly favourable for period originality.
Nevertheless, etched German blades should always be examined carefully because later-added decoration exists within the collector market. The close correspondence with a documented Alcoso pattern provides important supporting evidence in this case.
The long blade remains highly impressive.
Both decorative fields survive extensively. Military subjects, borders and lettering remain readily identifiable.
Historical polishing or careful cleaning can be detected across the blade surface.
For that reason, the blade is not described as untouched or mint.
However, polishing has not removed the important etched decoration.
The point remains strong, while no substantial edge damage is visible in the supplied photographs.
Overall blade presentation remains very good.
The nickel-finished hilt displays moderate age and handling wear.
Small marks remain around the pommel, guard and retaining-button area.
Nevertheless, the important contours remain crisp.
Both grip plates appear complete and retain excellent checkering.
Likewise, both securing rivets remain present.
The overall appearance is consistent with a period dress bayonet that has been carried and handled rather than artificially aged.
The black scabbard remains exceptionally presentable.
Much of the dark lacquer survives, while small marks provide evidence of genuine use and storage.
No serious deformation is apparent.
Meanwhile, the brown leather frog displays attractive natural patination.
Its stitching remains substantially intact. The leather edges also show age-related darkening and wear.
Together, the scabbard and frog considerably enhance the bayonet’s display quality.
A conventional unetched KS98 remains relatively obtainable.
Single-etched remembrance examples are scarcer and command a premium.
However, elaborate double-etched blades with detailed military scenes occupy a different collector category.
Alcoso produced some particularly impressive decorative patterns.
The presence of MG and PaK imagery on this bayonet makes it especially attractive to collectors of Heer equipment and German etched blades.
Furthermore, the long blade provides a much larger decorative surface than that found on short dress bayonets.
This combination explains why the present example deserves considerably more attention than an ordinary KS98.
Market evidence should distinguish rare double-etched examples from common dress bayonets.
The most relevant documented comparison is the Ratisbon’s long-pattern Alcoso KS98 with PaK and MG double etching, frog and additional suspension equipment.
That example realised €2,740.
The present bayonet shares the principal collector characteristics that make that comparison important:
Alcoso manufacture + long blade + double etching + military scenes + service inscription + scabbard + leather frog.
Accordingly, the appropriate catalogue price for the present example is:
This price reflects the documented collector market for a scarce double-etched Alcoso rather than the substantially lower value of a standard plain or single-etched dress bayonet.
This is a particularly appealing bayonet for an advanced German edged-weapons collection.
Alcoso manufacture provides a recognised Solingen maker.
Extensive decoration appears across both blade faces.
Furthermore, the military scenes create significantly greater visual interest than a conventional floral remembrance etch.
The original-style black scabbard and period brown leather frog complete the presentation.
Consequently, the bayonet would sit naturally within a specialist collection of Wehrmacht edged weapons, KS98 dress bayonets, Alcoso blades or etched Third Reich militaria.
Item: Wehrmacht dress bayonet
Pattern: KS98 / Extraseitengewehr
Manufacturer: Alexander Coppel – ALCOSO
Location: Solingen
Trademark: A.C.S. scales emblem
Blade: Long pattern
Etching: Rare double-sided military decoration
Inscription: Zur Erinnerung an meine Dienstzeit
Military imagery: MG and anti-tank / PaK scenes
Grip: Black checkered synthetic plates
Hilt: Nickel-finished dress pattern
Pommel: Bird’s-head type with retaining button
Scabbard: Black lacquered steel
Frog: Period brown leather
Condition: Very good with historical blade polishing
Rarity: Scarce double-etched variation
Catalogue price: €2,750
Explore related listings: (Heer/Army) Daggers.
Compare the blade pattern with the closely related Ratisbon’s Alcoso Double-Etched KS98 with PaK and MG Scenes.
Research additional German military edged weapons through Helmut Weitze Militaria.
Read further manufacturer information through the DG.DE Alexander Coppel – Alcoso Solingen reference.
