Germany, Heer. An Officer’s Dagger, by E. & F. Hörster

(Heer Offizierdolch). Heer officer’s dagger, measuring 400 mm in length when inserted into the scabbard. The dagger features a 255 mm-long magnetic metal blade, with a sharpened tip and unsharpened edges, which presents plain with the exception of a reverse maker’s mark of “E. & F. HÖRSTER, SOLINGEN” circumscribing the firm’s logo of a sword double-overlaid by a dual letter “H” above a letter “S”. The blade sites within a replaced silvered zink upper crossguard, the obverse of which presented as a raised, finely-detailed Wehrmacht eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika. A magnetic metal band with raised oak leaves transitions into a handle constructed of knotted light brown celluloid. The dagger completes with a replaced silvered zink pommel surrounded by raised oak leaves. The dagger is accompanied by its period original scabbard, constructed of pebbled magnetic metal. The throat of the scabbard is held together by a single rivet and retains a functional spring catch, securely holding the dagger in place during storage. It features two integrated bands, each of which bears a length of raised oak leaves, with magnetic metal loops for the accommodation of a dagger hanger. Some tarnishing and loss of finish is evident to the metal and zink features, along with some loosening of the structure. The dagger is in an overall better than very fine condition.