Germany, Heer. An Officer’s Dress Dagger, with Hanger, by Carl Eickhorn

(Heer Offizersdolch mit Anhänger). A very well-preserved Heer Officer’s dagger, measuring 40 cm in total length when inserted into the scabbard. It features a 26 cm-long nickel-plated magnetic steel blade with a sharpened tip and edges. The reverse ricasso bears a maker’s mark of “ORIGINAL EICKHORN, SOLINGEN”, circumscribing the firm’s classic logo of a squirrel clutching a sword. It sits securely within a nickel-plated upper crossguard, the obverse of which bears a raised Wehrmacht eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika, with the seam covered by an intact brown leather buffer pad. The handle grip is composed of a single piece of ribbed light brown bakelite, and completes with a flattened and rounded nickel-plated pommel which bears raised oak leaves around the outer circumference, screwing in to maintain the dagger’s structural integrity. Wrapped around the crossguard and pommel is a matching and period original portepee, consisting of a stylized silver aluminum wire acorn suspended from a strap of identical construction. Accompanying the dagger is its period original scabbard, constructed of a plated and pebbled magnetic metal shaft. Two integral bands are set into the upper third of the shaft, each bearing raised oak leaves, and culminating in loops for the accommodation of a hanger. The throat retains a functional spring catch to firmly hold the dagger in place during storage. The set is accompanied by a matching and period original hanger, consisting of an integrated pair of zink loops from which two straps are suspended. Each strap is constructed of a field-grey doeskin wool base topped by a silver aluminum wire tresse, is adjusted with a functional silvered zink button, and completes with functional silvered zink spring clips to lock onto the scabbard’s loops. Minor issues consistent with age are evident, and include sporadic spots of oxidation to the blade, loss of finish to the nickel-plated elements, and loss of finish to the hanger’s zink features. The set is in an overall near extremely fine condition.