I recently inherited this bayonet. I was always told this story about how it ended up in my family:
It supposedly belonged to my great grandfather, who served in the German army during World War 1. He was Danish, but came from ’Sønderjylland’(Southern Jutland), a region of Denmark that was part of the German Reich from 1864 to 1920. Since he had little sympathy for the German government that had pressed him into service, he sought a way to not serve at the front lines. He found himself a position as some sort of field barber.
So the bayonet was never actually used in combat, and supposedly it was something he received at the end of his service as a sort of ceremonial memento. It has been in my father’s family ever since.
I have these questions regarding the bayonet:
Is this an actual German bayonet from WW1?
Were there such a position as ’field barber’ or something similar in the German army?
Was awarding servicemen with a ceremonial bayonet something that happened?
It appears to be a M1884/98 "Sawback" Bayonet, made by Gebruder Heller of Marienthal. As best as I can find the sawback was produced between 1915 and late 1917/early 1918.
If it was issued from a unit, there should be a stamp somewhere on the guard which may tell you what unit it was issued to. It could have been worn down, or never even etched if it was issued late enough/or ceremonially.
I did find a reference to an illustrated German Bayonet Guide, which may give you some better insight. Pages referenced were 60-63. I can't find a copy online.