Germany, Kriegsmarine. An Officer’s Dress Dagger, by Weyersburg, Kirschbaum & Co.

(Kriegsmarine Offiziersdolch). A Kriegsmarine Officer’s dress dagger, measuring 415 mm in total length when inserted into the scabbard. It features a 255 mm-long polished magnetic steel blade with a sharpened tip and edges. Dual narrow fullers run approximately two-thirds the length of each side of the blade. The reverse ricasso bears a maker’s mark of “WKC” for Weyersburg, Kirschbaum & Co., Solingen, topped by the firm’s classic knight’s helmet logo. It sits firmly within a bronze upper crossguard bearing central double-sided fouled anchors. A push-button release on the obverse of the crossguard connects to a spring catch emanating from the blade’s ricasso to lock onto the scabbard. The handle grip is composed of a single piece of ribbed off-white celluloid, with the ribbing retaining a length of original twisted and rolled bronze wire cord. The dagger completes with a bronze pommel in the form of a German national eagle perched on top of a wreathed mobile swastika, screwing in to securely maintain the dagger’s structural integrity. It is accompanied by its period original scabbard, constructed of a bronze shaft with decorated etched designs throughout the outer circumference. The upper third of the shaft features two integral oak leaf bands with loops for the accommodation of a hanger. The throat is held together with dual side rivets. Some issues consistent with age and wear are evident, and include slight oxidation to the blade, a crack fully surrounding the middle of the handle grip, and push-button scabbard release, while functional, has been rendered difficult to push by friction. The dagger is in an overall very fine condition.