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

(Bahnschutz Dolch für Führer, 2. Model mit Gehänge). A rare and exceptionally well-preserved Bahnschutz Official’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. 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 silver-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 brown leather buffer pad. The handle grip is composed of a single piece of ribbed black celluloid, and the dagger completes with a silvered pommel bearing a raised sunwheel-style 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, 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 bands retaining loops for the accommodation of a hanger. The throat retains a functional spring catch, firmly holding the dagger in place during storage. Notably, the scabbard also retains an original Eickhorn manufacturer’s tag, construction of red-painted magnetic metal. Demonstrating no evident damage or wear, this superb example is in a near mint condition.

It is accompanied by a matching hanger, consisting of a silvered zink 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 zink alloy buckles, and complete with functional zink spring catches 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.