Germany, Kriegsmarine. An Officer’s Dress Dagger, by Carl Eickhorn

(Kriegsmarine Dolch für Offiziere). A very well-preserved Kriegsmarine Officer’s dress dagger, measuring 42 cm in total length when inserted into the scabbard. It features a 25 cm-long, nickel-plated, magnetic steel blade which retains factory-original sharpening to the tip. Dual narrow fullers run the majority of the length of each side of the blade, which also bears double-sided acid-etched designs consisting of central fouled anchors flanked by arabesque and serpentine imagery. The obverse ricasso bears a maker’s mark of “ORIGINAL EICKHORN, SOLINGEN”, topped by the firm’s classic squirrel logo. It sits securely within a gilded brass crossguard, bearing double-sided central fouled anchors, with an intact wool buffer pad covering the seam. Inset into the obverse of the crossguard is a functional push-button release connecting to a clip emanating from the ricasso to release the scabbard lock. A single piece of ribbed off-white celluloid composes the handle grip, with the ribbing retaining an original twisted and rolled wire cord. It culminates in a gilded brass pommel consisting of a German national eagle perched on top of a wreathed mobile swastika, screwing in to maintain the dagger’s structural integrity. Accompanying the dagger is its original scabbard, constructed of a gilded brass shaft with etched designs distributed around the outer circumference. Dual integral oak leaf bands are situated just below the throat, each retaining a loop for the accommodation of a hanger. A functional catch situated within the throat locks onto the blade’s clip. Demonstrating only faint running marks to the blade, this superb dagger remains in an extremely fine condition.