Germany, Third Reich. A Rare Bahnschutz Official’s Dagger, Second Model with Hanger, by Carl Eickhorn

(Bahnschutz Dolch für Führer, 2. Model mit Gehänge). A rare and well-preserved Bahnschutz Official’s dagger, measuring 40.5 cm in total length when inserted into the scabbard. It features a 26 cm-long, nickel-plated, magnetic steel blade with a sharpened tip and edges. It is plain with the exception of a maker’s mark on the reverse ricasso of “ORIGINAL EICKHORN, SOLINGEN”, circumscribing the firm’s classic logo of squirrel clutching a sword. The blade sits securely within a nickel-plated alloy crossguard, the obverse of which bears a Reichsbahn insignia in the form of a winged wheelset, with the seam covered by an intact black leather buffer pad. The handle grip is composed of a single piece of ribbed black celluloid, and the dagger completes with a nickel-plated pommel bearing a raised sunwheel-style swastika, screwing in to maintain the dagger’s structural integrity. Wrapped around the handle is a matching portepee, consisting of a stylized silver aluminum wire acorn suspended from a strap of identical construction, interspersed with black stripes. It is accompanied by its original scabbard, constructed of a magnetic metal shaft. The upper third of the shaft has two integral ribbed bands retaining loops for the accommodation of a hanger. A functional catch situated within the throat firmly holds the dagger in place during storage. Minor issues consistent with age and wear are evident, and include some running marks to the blade, some blunting of the tip, and sporadic scratching and chipping of the nickel plating to the applicable fixtures. This scarce example remains in a near extremely fine condition.

It is accompanied by a matching hanger, consisting of an aluminum alloy loop, with two additional loops emanating from the lower edge. Descending from the latter are black doeskin straps, both topped by silver aluminum wire tresses, in turn flanked by machine-embroidered black stripes. The straps are both adjusted with functional silvered alloy buckles, and complete with functional feinzink spring clips to lock onto the scabbard’s loops. Demonstrating only minor loss of finish to the zink fixtures, the hanger remains in an extremely fine condition.