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

(Kriegsmarine Offiziersdolch mit Gehänge). A very 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 dual narrow fullers spanning approximately two-thirds of the length of each side. The blade features double-sided, acid-etched designs consisting of central fouled anchors flanked by arabesque and serpentine imagery. A maker’s mark of “ORIGINAL EICKHORN”, SOLINGEN” is visible on the reverse ricasso, circumscribing the firm’s classic logo of squirrel clutching a sword. It sits securely within a gilded bronze upper crossguard, with the seam covered by an intact wool buffer pad, which features double–sided central fouled anchors. Inset into the reverse of the crossguard is a functional push button which connects to a clip emanating from the blade’s ricasso to facilitate release from the scabbard. The handle grip is composed of a single piece of ribbed white celluloid, with the ribbing retaining an original twisted and rolled bronze wire cord. The dagger completes with a pommel consisting of a gilded bronze German national eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika, screwing in to maintain the dagger’s structural integrity. Wrapped around the crossguard and pommel is a matching portepee, consisting of a stylized silver aluminum wire acorn suspended from a strap of identical construction. It 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 features two integral oak leaf brands, each retaining a loop for the accommodation of a hanger. The throat has a functional spring catch to lock onto the blade’s clip, and is secured together with dual side rivets. Accompanying the dagger is a matching hanger, constructed of two black doeskin straps, both topped by black rayon. Each strap is adjusted with a functional lion’s head buckle, and completes at both ends in functional spring clips for uniform suspension and scabbard attachment, respectively. Minor issues consistent with age and wear are evident, and include some running marks to the blade and loss of finish to the bronze fixtures. It is in an overall near extremely fine condition.