Imperial Fire (Feuerwehr) Daggers

Fire Department Edged Weapons – Dress Bayonets, Officer’s Dirks & Parade Axes

This category presents historical edged weapons of the German Fire Service — including Fire Department dress bayonets (short & long), Fire Officer’s dirks, sawback variants and ceremonial parade axes. These weapons were part of the dress and parade uniform and today rank among the most distinctive non-military collectors’ items.

Fire Department Dress Bayonets

The Fire Department dress bayonet is closely related to the K98 dress bayonet but features one significant difference: a double-quillon crossguard with the left horn curving upward and the right horn curving downward. Unlike combat bayonets, it had no rifle mount slot and was used purely as a dress sidearm.

Grips: black checkered Bakelite or hard rubber
Crossguard: two decorative quillons forming an “S” pattern
Blade: polished, available in short or long length, rare sawback versions exist
Scabbard: black-painted steel scabbard identical to a K98 dress scabbard
Frog: leather Fire Department hanger

Fire Officer’s Dirks

The Fire Officer’s dirk is one of the most elegant non-military German edged weapons. Its design remained nearly unchanged from the mid-19th century to the 1940s.

Length: typically 45–55 cm; Imperial pieces can be longer
Grip: black leather or celluloid over wood, wire-wrapped
Crossguard: centre block normally decorated with two crossed axes
Pommel: rounded or lightly ornamented
Scabbard: black leather with three mounts and two suspension rings
Blade: double-etched with fire motifs, foliage, helmets, ladders and tools

Fire Department Parade Axes

In addition to bayonets and dirks, firemen — especially senior personnel — carried parade axes. These were ceremonial items used during parades, presentations, promotions and honour events.

Finishes: nickel-plated, silver-plated or gilded
Blades: plain polished, engraved or deeply etched
Handles: hardwood, ebony, carved designs, occasionally ivory
Purpose: ceremonial use, retirement gifts, awards

Key Collector Features

Original Bakelite or celluloid grips without cracks
Unmodified blades (no modern grinding or shortening)
Original leather hangers with correct stitching
Officer’s dirks with clean, sharp etching
Rare types such as sawback bayonets and presentation axes

Imperial Fire Official’s Dirk M1870 by Carl Eickhorn Solingen

German Fireman’s Short Bayonet by Paul Seilheimer Solingen

Fireman’s Short Bayonet by Carl Eickhorn Solingen

German Fire Axe with Leather Frog

Fireman's Dress Axe [M1938]

Presentation Fire Axe with Hangers, German - M1938

Deluxe Presentation Fire Axe, German - M1938

Deluxe Presentation Fire Axe with hanger, ID, photo, German

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Buying Fire Department Edged Weapons

Would you like to sell a Fire Department dress bayonet, a Fire Officer’s dirk, a parade axe or a sawback variant? DG.de specializes in buying and evaluating original Fire Department edged weapons.