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

(Kriegsmarine Dolch für Offiziere). An extremely well-preserved Kriegsmarine Officer’s dress dagger, measuring 41.5 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 unspoiled edges. Dual narrow fullers run approximately two-thirds of the length of each side of the blade, which also features double-sided acid-etched designs consisting of central fouled anchors flanked by arabesque and serpentine imagery. The reverse ricasso bears 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 multi-piece hilt, with a smooth brown wool buffer pad covering the seam. A gilded bronze crossguard features double-sided central fouled anchors, with the reverse inset with a functional push-button release connecting to a clip emanating from the ricasso to unlock the scabbard catch. A single piece of ribbed white celluloid comprises the handle grip, with the ribbon retaining an original twisted and rolled bronze wire cord. The dagger completes with a pommel consisting of a gilded bronze German national eagle perched on top of a wreathed mobile swastika, screwing in to maintain the dagger’s structural integrity. Wrapped around the handle grip and pommel is a matching portepee, consisting of a stylized gold bullion wire acorn suspended from a strap of identical construction. Accompanying the dagger is its original scabbard, constructed of a gilded bronze shaft with etched designs distributed around the outer circumference. Two integral oak leaf bands set into the upper third of the shaft retain loops for the accommodation of a hanger. Minor issues consistent with age and wear are evident, and include tarnishing and oxidation to the metal elements, some denting of the scabbard shaft, and material fatigue to the portepee. The dagger demonstrates no evidence of repairs of alterations and remains in an overall near extremely fine condition.