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

(Luftwaffe Dolch für Offiziere mit Gehänge). A Luftwaffe Officer’s dress dagger, measuring 42 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 both the edges and tip. The blade is plain with the exception of a maker’s mark on the reverse ricasso reading “ORIGINAL EICKHORN, SOLINGEN”, circumscribing the firm’s classic logo of a squirrel clutching a sword. The blade sits securely within an aluminum alloy crossguard, the obverse of which bears a raised Luftwaffe eagle clutching a mobile swastika, while the reverse features a pebbled texture. An intact blackened leather buffer pad covers the seam where the blade enters the crossguard. A single piece of ribbed light brown celluloid composes the handle, with the ribbing retaining an original twisted and rolled silver aluminum wire cord. An aluminum alloy pommel completes the dagger, and consists of a double-sided wreathed mobile swastika, screwing in to maintain the dagger’s structural integrity. Accompanying the dagger is its original scabbard, constructed of a pebbled magnetic metal shaft. The upper third of the shaft has two integral oak leaf bands retaining loops 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, loss of gilt finish to the pommel swastika, and surface oxidation throughout the scabbard shaft. It remains in a better than very fine condition.

Also accompanying the dagger is a unique customized hanger, consisting of a silvered zink spring clip decorated with raised oak leaves. Two loops emanate from the lower edge of the clip and retain textured blackened leather straps, each adjusted with silvered zink buckles and culminating in functional spring clips to lock onto a corresponding scabbard’s loops. The uniform clip is marked with a Reichszeugmeisterei (RZM) logo and code “UE 10” (possibly indicating manufacture by Wilhelm Deus, Solingen). It measures 30 cm in total length as presented. An interesting example featuring period zink fixtures, the hanger demonstrates minor fatigue and loss of finish to the leather and metal elements, respectively, and remains in a very fine condition.