Germany, Kriegsmarine. An Officer’s Dress Dagger

(Kriegsmarine Offiziers-Dolch). A Kriegsmarine Officer’s dagger, measuring 41.5 cm in total length when inserted into the scabbard. It features a 24 cm-long, nickel-plated, magnetic steel blade with a sharpened tip and edges. Narrow dual fullers run the majority of the length of each side of the blade, which is fully unmarked. A non-functional clip emanates from the obverse ricasso, while the blade sits securely within a gilded bronze crossguard which bears double-sided central fouled anchors. The handle is composed of a wooden core with a ribbed off-white celluloid grip, with the ribbing retaining an original twisted and rolled bronze wire cord. It completes with a gilded bronze pommel in the form of a German national eagle perched on top of a wreathed mobile swastika, screwing in to maintain the dagger’s structural integrity. It is accompanied by its original scabbard, constructed of a gilded bronze shaft with etched designs distributed around the outer circumference. The upper third of the shaft has two integral bands taking the form of ropes, in turn securing in place loops for the accommodation of a hanger. Issues consistent with age and wear are evident, and include tarnishing and running marks to the blade, significant chipping and cracking throughout the handle grip, and minor oxidation of the bronze fixtures. This unusual buttonless example is in a fair condition.