Germany, Heer. An Officer’s Dagger, by Arthur Schüttelhöfer

(Heer Offiziersdolch). An extremely well-preserved Heer officer’s dagger, measuring 395 mm in length when inserted into the scabbard. It features a 260 mm-long nickel-plated magnetic metal blade with a sharpened tip and semi-sharpened edges. The blade presents plain with the exception of a maker’s mark near the reverse ricasso of “A. SCHÜTTELHÖFFER, SOLINGEN”, circumscribing the company’s logo of a horse mounted by a knight. The blade sits securely within the silvered upper crossguard, the obverse of which consists of a finely-detailed Wehrmacht eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika. A band of raised oak leaves transitions into a ribbed orange celluloid handle grip. Wrapped around the upper handle is a portepee constructed of multiple rows and twisted and rolled silver aluminum wire, completing in a stylized acord. The dagger completes with a rounded, silvered pommel fully surrounded by raised oak leaves on a pebbled background. It is accompanied by its period original scabbard, constructed of pebbled magnetic metal. The shaft bears dual integrated oak leaf bands, each with a loop for attachment to a dagger hanger. The throat is held together by a single rivet at the reverse and retains a functional spring catch, securely holding the dagger in place during storage. Minor, age-appropriate tarnishing is evident to the metal features, but the dagger is in an overall extremely fine condition.