Germany, Heer. A Heer Officer’s Dagger, by Alexander Coppel

(Heer Offiziersdolch). A well-preserved Heer officer’s dagger, measuring 425 mm in total length when inserted into the scabbard. It features a 265 mm-long polished magnetic steel blade with a sharpened tip and semi-sharpened edges. The blade is unmarked with the exception of a maker’s stamp near the reverse ricasso of “ALCOSO, SOLINGEN”, for the former firm of Alexander Coppel. It sits securely within the silvered zink alloy upper crossguard, the obverse of which presents as a finely-detailed Wehrmacht eagle clutching a mobile swastika. The handle grip consists of a single piece of ribbed dark brown celluloid, retaining an original twisted and rolled wire cord. The structure is secured together by a stylized silvered zink pommel, each side of which consists of a raised mobile swastika set within oak leaves. Wrapped around the upper handle grip is an original portepee, constructed of silver aluminum wire and consisting of a stylized acorn suspended from a reinforced cord. The dagger is accompanied by its period original scabbard, constructed of a pebbled magnetic metal shaft. The lower quarter of both the obverse and reverse of the shaft is decorated with raised oak leaves. The upper third of the shaft features two bands, fully circumscribed with raised oak leaves, retaining dual loops for attachment to a dagger hanger. The throat is secured together with dual side rivets and retains a functional spring catch, securely holding the dagger in place during storage. While well-preserved, it displays some issues consistent with age and use, including running marks to the dagger, loss of finish to the zink elements, material fatigue to the portepee, and consistent oxidation to the scabbard. The dagger is in an overall very fine condition.