Germany, Imperial. A Rare Navy Officer’s Dagger, with Damascus Blade, by Weyersberg, Kirschbaum & Cie.

(Kaiserliche Marine Offiziersdolch). A rare Imperial German Navy Officer’s dagger, measuring 40 cm in total length when inserted into the scabbard. It features a 23 cm-long magnetic Damascus steel blade with a sharpened tip and edges, with dual narrow fullers running the majority of the length of each side. The reverse ricasso is marked with a crowned “M”, indicating distribution to Navy personnel, while the reverse ricasso bears the maker’s mark of Weyersberg, Kirschbaum & Cie, Solinge, in the form of the firm’s classic knight’s helmet logo. It sits securely within a gilded bronze crossguard, featuring double-sided central fouled anchors with the reverse inset with a functional push-button release connecting to a clip which emanates from the blade’s ricasso to lock onto the scabbard, with the seam covered by an intact brown leather buffer pad. The handle grip is composed of a single piece of ribbed off-white bone, with the ribbing retaining an original twisted and rolled gilded wire cord. It completes with a pommel consisting of a finely-detailed German State Crown, screwing in to maintain the dagger’s structural integrity. The dagger is accompanied by its period original scabbard, constructed of a pebbled and gilded bronze shaft decorated with oak leaves and acorns around the outer circumference. The upper third of the shaft features two integral oak leaf bands, each retaining loops for the accommodation of a hanger. Flanking the throat are dual rivets which fasten in place a functional catch to lock onto the dagger’s clip. Minor, age-appropriate issues are evident, and include some oxidation of the blade and two fine cracks to the bone handle, with an additional small chip visible near the crossguard. This rare and superb dagger is in an overall near extremely fine condition.