German WWI Erfurt 'Butcher' Bayonet

Composed of socketted bolts of various types, most with tapering or facetted square-section tips. 888 grams total, 5.4-10.3 cm



Acquired 1990s-early 2000s. East Anglian private collection.

An armet with rounded one-piece skull raising to a roped medial comb, visor, prow shaped upper bevor and bevor attached by common pivots, each secured at the right side by a spring-catch, the visor with stepped centrally divided visor-slit and two gorget-plates. 2 kg, 31 cm high



Acquired on the European art market. The Kusmirek Collection, UK. Accompanied by a copy of an invoice. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11767-203981.

The term armet is generally used to denote a visored helmet of particular construction, one in which large cheekpieces are hinged to the base of the bowl just above the ears and close in front of the chin. From about 1515 A.D., the Germans produced a variant armet where the downward extension of the skull was made much wider, reaching as far forward as the ears. The cheekpieces on this type of helmet opened sideways, on vertical hinges on the edges of this wider neck element.

Composed of a central cylindrical socket with collar to base and gently triangular flanges to upper face, a wedge-shaped adze-head to one side and a wedge-shaped axe head to the other, both with gently convex cutting edges. 1.1 kg, 25 cm



Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.