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

(Kriegsmarine Offiziersdolch mit Anhänger). An extremely well-preserved Kriegsmarine Officer’s dress dagger, measuring 42 cm in total length when inserted into the scabbard. It features a 25 cm-long nickel-plated magnetic steel blade with a sharpened tip and unspoiled edges. The blade has double-sided dual fullers, with each side also bearing an acid-etched design consisting of a central fouled anchor flanked by arabesque and serpentine designs. Stamped onto the reverse ricasso is a maker’s mark of “ORIGINAL EICKHORN, SOLINGEN”, circumscribing the firm’s classic logo of a squirrel clutching a sword. The blade sits securely within a gilded bronze upper crossguard, decorated with double-sided central fouled anchors. Inset into the reverse of the crossguard is a push button connecting to a functional spring catch emanating from the blade ricasso to release the scabbard lock. The handle grip is composed of a single piece of ribbed off-white celluloid, with the ribbing retaining an original twisted and rolled bronze wire cord. It completes with a pommel consisting of a gilded bronze German national eagle perched on top of a wreathed mobile swastika, securely screwing in to maintain the dagger’s structural integrity. Wrapped around the crossguard and handle grip is a matching portepee, consisting of a stylized gold bullion wire acorn suspended from a cord of identical construction. It is accompanied by its original scabbard, constructed of a gilded bronze shaft, decorated around the outer circumference with lightning bolts and geometric designs. The upper third of the shaft features two integral oak leaf rings retaining loops for the accommodation of a hanger. It completes with a throat that retains a functional catch to lock onto the dagger’s clip, secured together with dual side rivets. The loops retain a matching two-piece hanger, consisting of two black doeskin wool straps topped by black rayon. Each strap is adjusted with a functional gilded bronze buckle featuring two raised lion heads, and retains functional spring clips at each end for uniform and scabbard connection. Minor issues consistent with age and wear are evidence, and include some loss of finish to the gilded elements, running marks to the blade, and some material fatigue to the portepee. The set is in an overall near extremely fine condition.