Trajan

The photograph was almost certainly taken before March 1897 which is when a Kaiserheer order instructed the wearing of the national cockade above the State cockade on peaked hats and field caps, the national cockade to be placed on the right side of the pickelhaube and the State version on the left side. I can't find the exact reference for that date right now, but will look for it if it is needed. Nor can I help with the uniform just yet as I am away from home!

A very nice looking piece! It looks like a WR over II, and so 'Wilhelm Rex II' = Wilhelm II. I have seen some of these in photographs of senior officers and I suspect they were some kind of gift for those who gave personal service to Kaiser Bill in his role as King of Prussia. According to my notes Lubbe and Carter's book on German bayonets shows three examples, e.g. pp.132-133, a S.84/98 with a horn handle and monogram badge; also pp.182-183, a non-fixable KS 98; also pp.192-193, a fixable KS 98. Carter vol.II reports that on 19th July 1915, the Prussian War Ministry ordered all regimental officers to replace their swords with S.98/05 bayonets (except for airmen and airship personnel who were allowed to carry the kS.98), the Bavarians following suit a bit later (as usual!). However, the photographic evidence suggests that many officers chose to wear a kS.98 or other short bayonet rather than a S.98/05. Trajan