A Naval Officer's Dagger by Carl Eickhorn, Solingen

Measuring 417 mm, with the scabbard on, this dagger features a 250 mm nickel-plated steel blade, magnetic, with unsharpened edges, remaining bright and crisp, and having a very sharp tip. The blade's reverse ricasso is maker marked Carl Eickhorn, Solingen with the company's later designed stylized squirrel insignia, used between 1941 and 1942. The blade itself exhibits a beautifully engraved ornate naval design incorporating a fouled anchor on both sides, with faint scratches overall, common to extraction and return to the scabbard, scattered surface wear, especially in and around the ricasso on both sides, exhibiting a natural shine, better than very fine. The thin brown felt blade washer has disintegrated on the obverse, the other half on the reverse side remaining intact. The fittings are brass, bearing an anchor on both sides of the crossguard, with a blade release button. The ivory-coloured celluloid grip is smooth, very lightly contacted, with its seven rows of tightly wrapped twisted brass wire having been lost to time. The pommel exhibits a nice-detailed Naval eagle standing upon a wreathed swastika, with minimal surface and gilt wear evident, the dagger measuring 382 mm in length overall. The ornately-designed scabbard exhibits light contact overall, with a prominent dent on one side, contact marks and surface wear on the body from active use, the throat held firmly in place by two screws, the body having two bands displaying the traditional oak leaf design with thick dagger hanger rings, the scabbard measuring 283 mm in length. Dagger exhibits outstanding workmanship. Better than very fine.