Germany, Kriegsmarine. An Officer’s Dress Dagger

(Kriegsmarine Offiziers-Dolch). A well-preserved Kriegsmarine Officer’s dress dagger, measuring 42 cm in total length when inserted into the scabbard. It features a 25.5 cm-long, nickel-plated, magnetic steel blade with a sharpened tip and edges. Dual narrow fullers run the majority of the length of each side of the blade. Unmarked, it sits securely within a gilded bronze crossguard which bears double-sided central fouled anchors, with the seam covered by an intact red wool buffer pad. Inset into the obverse of the crossguard is a functional push-button spring release connecting to a clip which emanates from the ricasso. The handle grip is composed of a single piece of ribbed off-white celluloid, with the ribbing retaining an intact twisted and rolled bronze wire cord. It completes with a gilded bronze pommel in the form of a German national eagle perched on top of a wreathed mobile swastika, screwing in to maintain the dagger’s structural integrity. Wrapped around the crossguard and pommel is a matching portepee, consisting of a stylized silver aluminum wire acorn suspended from a strap of identical construction. It is accompanied by its original scabbard, constructed of a dimpled gilded bronze shaft. The upper third of the shaft has two integral oak leaf bands with loops for the accommodation of a hanger. The throat retains a functional catch to lock onto the blade’s clip. Minor oxidation is visible to the scabbard, with some material fatigue evident to the portepee, but the dagger demonstrates no notable damage or wear and is in an extremely fine condition.