Germany, Heer. An Officer’s Dress Dagger, with Hanger, by Carl Eickhorn

(Heer Dolch für Offiziere mit Gehänge). A well-preserved Heer Officer’s dress dagger, measuring 40 cm in total length when inserted into the scabbard. It features a 26.5 cm-long, nickel-plated, magnetic steel blade which retains factory-original sharpening to the tip. The reverse ricasso bears a maker’s mark of “ORIGINAL EICKHORN, SOLINGEN”, circumscribing the firm’s classic logo of a squirrel clutching a sword. It sits securely within a nickel-silver crossguard, the obverse of which bears a raised Wehrmacht eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika, with an intact blackened leather buffer pad covering the seam. The handle grip is composed of a single piece of ribbed light brown celluloid, while the dagger culminates in a nickel-silver pommel, bearing raised oak leaves around the outer circumference, which screws in to maintain its structural integrity. Wrapped around the crossguard and pommel is a matching portepee, consisting of a stylized silver aluminum wire acorn suspended from a cord of identical construction. Accompanying the dagger is its original scabbard, constructed of a pebbled magnetic metal shaft. Two integral oak leaf bands are set in place just below the shaft, each retaining a loop for the accommodation of a hanger. A functional spring catch situated within the throat firmly holds the dagger in place during storage. Issues consistent with age and wear are evident, and include minor running marks and tarnishing to the blade and extensive material fatigue to the portepee. It remains in an overall near extremely fine condition.

Also accompanying the dagger is a matching hanger, consisting of a gilded zink loop with two additional loops emanating from the lower edge. Descending from each loop is a field-grey doeskin strap topped by a silver aluminum wire tresse, both adjusted with gilded zink buckles and culminating in functional spring clips of identical construction to fasten onto the scabbard’s loops. Unmarked, the hanger measures 26.5 cm in total length as presented. Near-total loss of gilt finish is visible to the metal fixtures, while the straps demonstrating moderate material fatigue. The hanger remains in a very fine condition.