Germany, Imperial. A Navy Officer’s Dagger, by Weyersberg, Kirschbaum & Cie.

(Kaiserliche Marine Offiziersdolch). An interesting Imperial German Navy Officer’s dagger, measuring 41 cm in total length when inserted into the scabbard. It features a 27 cm-long, nickel-plated, magnetic steel blade with a sharpened tip and edges. The blade bears double-sided, acid-etched designs consisting of a central fouled anchors flanked by ships, weaponry, and arabesques. Stamped onto the reverse ricasso is the maker’s logo of Weyersberg, Kirschbaum & Cie, Solinge. The blade sits securely within a gilded brass crossguard, decorated with double sided fouled anchors, with the seam covered by an intact black leather buffer pad. Inset into the reverse of the crossguard is a push-button spring release connecting to a clip emanating from the blade’s ricasso to allow for extraction from the scabbard. The replacement ribbed, brown composite handle grip retains a twisted and rolled gilded wire cord. It completes with a pommel in the form of a gilded brass German State Crown, cut down from its original form and modified with an etched pattern, screwing in to maintain the dagger’s structural integrity. It is accompanied by its period original scabbard constructed of a gilded bronze shaft. Decorated with etched lightning bolts around the tip, the upper shift of the shaft has two integral rope bands which retain loops for the accommodation of a hanger. In addition to the replacement handle grip and modified pommel, the dagger demonstrates some running marks to the blade and loss of finish to the brass elements, and the scabbard locking mechanism no longer functions. It is in a very fine condition.