Germany, Kriegsmarine. A Mint Officer’s Dress Dagger, by Weyersberg, Kirschbaum & Cie

(Kriegsmarine Offiziersdolch). An extremely well-preserved Kriegsmarine Officer’s dress dagger, measuring 420 mm in total length when inserted into the scabbard. It features a 250-mm long magnetic metal blade with a sharpened tip and semi-sharpened edges. Both the obverse and reverse feature two fullers, overlaid by acid-etched designs consisting of a central anchor flanked by floral and serpentine designs. Near the reverse of the ricasso, the blade bears a maker’s mark of “WKC” for Weyersberg, Kirschbaum & Cie of Solingen, topped by a knight’s helmet logo. The blade sits securely within the gilded bronze upper crossguard, with the seam covered by an intact red felt buffer pad. Both the obverse and reverse of the crossguard bear central raised anchors. Inset into the former is a push-button connected to a spring catch emanating from the blade, securely locking the dagger into the scabbard during storage. The handle grip consists of a single piece of ribbed white celluloid wrapped with twisted and rolled copper wire. The dagger completes with a pommel, constructed of gilded bronze, consisting of a German national eagle perched on top of a wreathed mobile swastika. It is accompanied by its period original dagger, constructed of gilded and polished bronze, and bearing decorative etched designs throughout. The upper third of the scabbard features integrated bands, presenting as raised oak leaves, each with an integral loop and suspension ring for the accommodation of a dagger hanger. The throat retains a functional catch, and is held together by dual side rivets. With the exception of very minor loss of gilt finish, with resistance to the push-button rendering extraction of the dagger from the bayonet difficult, the dagger in near mint fine condition.