Germany, Kriegsmarine. An Officer’s Dress Dagger, by E. & F. Hörster

(Kriegsmarine Dolch für Offizier). A 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 edges. Narrow dual fullers run the majority of the length of each side, with both sides also featuring acid-etched designs consisting of ships and fouled anchors flanked by arabesque imagery. The obverse ricasso is maker marked “E. U. F. HÖRSTER, SOLINGEN”, circumscribing the firm’s monogram logo. The blade sits securely within a gilded bronze crossguard, bearing double-sided central fouled anchors, with the seam covered by an intact black leather buffer pad. Inset into the reverse of the crossguard is a functional push-button release connecting to clip emanating from the blade’s ricasso. The handle grip is composed of a single piece of ribbed white celluloid, with the ribbing retaining an original twisted and rolled bronze wire cord. The dagger is completed by a gilded bronze pommel in the form of a German national eagle perched on top of a wreathed mobile swastika. It is accompanied by its original scabbard, constructed of a dimpled and gilded bronze shaft. The upper third of the shaft has two oak leaf bands with loops for the accommodation of a hanger. The throat retains a functional catch to meet the blade’s clip to firmly hold the dagger in place during storage. Some issues consistent with age and wear are evident, and include slight running marks to the blade, cracking of the handle grip, and sporadic patches of verdigris to the bronze. It is in a better than very fine condition.