Germany, Wasserschutzpolizei. A Water Protection Police Officer’s Dagger, by Carl Eickhorn

(Dolch für Offiziere der Wasserschutzpolizei). (Water Protection Police) Officer’s dagger, measuring 405 mm in total length when inserted into the scabbard. The dagger features a 250 mm-long magnetic metal blade with a sharpened tip and unsharpened edges. Each side features dual fullers, and is acid-etched with decorative designs, consisting of a central fouled anchor surrounded by floral and serpentine imagery. It is maker marked near the reverse ricasso with “CARL EICKHORN, SOLINGEN”, circumscribing Eickhorn’s squirrel logo in its 1933-1935 incarnation. The blade sites securely within a gilded bronze upper crossguard, completing with dual ribbed and rounded quillons, with each side bearing a central raised fouled anchor. An intact brown wool buffer pad covers the seam, while a functional spring catch and stud release is set into the crossguard and ricasso, securely locking the dagger within the scabbard during storage. The handle grip consists of a piece of ribbed and textured dark blue leather, wrapped in twisted and rolled gilded metal wire. It completes with a stylized rounded pommel, and is wrapped with an original portepee, constructed of multiple rows of twisted and rolled gold bullion wire, completing in a stylized acorn. It is accompanied by its period original scabbard, constructed of a bronze shaft bearing etched designs. The shaft bears dual integrated loops consisting of raised oak leaves, each completing in a loop for the accommodation of a dagger hanger. The throat is held together by dual magnetic metal side rivets. Minor material fatigue is evident to the leather handle grip and portepee wire, along with some oxidation and loss of finish to the bronze. It is in an overall near extremely fine condition.