Rare Royal Bavarian M-1898 Infantry Bayonet w/Personalized Double-Etched/Blued Panel Blade, Frog & Portepee. Stamped Knight's helmet (WK&C) TM. An illustration of this pattern bayonet, with private purchase quality, double-etched blade appears as No. 87, in the Imperial WK&C Sales Catalog. Nickel-plated hilt fittings show surface wear/age, with crazing specks on obverse and reverse of slotted pommel, hilt, spine and crossguard with lifting to the upturned quillon. Medium brown, oak-grained, wooden grip diagonal incised lines on the obverse/reverse, shows surface wear/age, but no cracks or chips and is complete with oil/drain holes at the lower edged on both obverse and reverse. Plated, double-etched quillback blade measuring 20 ½" in length grades EX++/Near MINT, showing minor surface wear, with a tiny spot of lifting to the blade tip, but no nicks to the cutting edge. Obverse blade features a 6 ¼" long blued panel with the raised inscription, "3. Infant. Rgt. Prinz Carl von Bayern." (3rd. Infantry Regiment Prince Carl of Bavaria) in raised Gothic letters. Reverse blade features a 3 ¾" long raised floral etch with the inscription "In Treue Fest" in raised Gothic letters on blued background. Etched panels retain 100% of the light gray and blued background frosting and blade is complete with tan leather buffer pad. Black leather, dent- and crease-free scabbard, shows minor surface wear with no rips, tears, or damage to the reverse stitching. Dent-free nickel-plated scabbard fittings show surface wear with oxidation and lifting to the obverse lower fitting, but no damage to the lower ball. The lower fitting is complete with the retaining staple, however the upper staple is hidden under the frog. Black leather frog grades EX++ showing age crazing to patent leather finish, but no damage to stitching and interior of the belt loop appears to never have been slipped on to a belt. Attached to the frog is an EX++, original Bavarian portepee with white fabric strap with two sets of double-blue stripes and blue flecked slide/stem/crown with white-over-blue fringed acorn. Information included with the bayonet indicates that the 3rd. Infantry Regiment Prince Carl of Bavaria was garrisoned in Augsburg and in 1914 was commanded by Oberst Maxmilian Jehlin. Rare bayonet with superb double-etched blade, frog and portepee. EX++ (26148) $2,495.