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

(Kriegsmarine Offiziersdolch). An extremely well-preserved Kriegsmarine Officer’s dagger, measuring 42 cm in total length when inserted into the scabbard. It features a 25.5 cm-long nickel-plated magnetic steel blade with a sharpened tip and edges, and with double-sided acid-etched designs consisting of central fouled anchors flanked by arabesque and serpentine designs. The reverse ricasso bears a maker’s mark of “ORIGINAL EICKHORN, SOLINGEN”, circumscribing the firm’s classic logo of a squirrel clutching a sword. The blade sits firmly within a gilded bronze crossguard, which bears double-sided central fouled anchors, with the seam covered by an intact brown wool buffer pad. The reverse of the crossguard is inset with a functional push-button release which connects to a clip that emanates from the blade’s ricasso. The handle grip is composed of a single piece of ribbed off-white celluloid, with the ribbing retaining an original twisted and rolled bronze wire cord. It completes with a pommel consisting of a gilded German national eagle perched on top of a wreathed mobile swastika, screwing in to maintain the dagger’s structural integrity. The dagger is accompanied by its original scabbard, constructed of a gilded bronze shaft decorated around the outer circumference with etched designs. The upper third of the shaft has two integral oak leaf bands, each retaining a loop for the accommodation of a hanger. Dual rivets flank the throat, which retains a functional catch to lock onto the blade’s clip. Demonstrating no notable damage or wear, the dagger remains in an extremely fine condition.