Germany, Luftwaffe. An Officer’s Dagger, by Carl Eickhorn

(Luftwaffe Offiziersdolch). An extremely well-preserved Luftwaffe Officer’s dagger, measuring 41.5 cm in total length when inserted into the scabbard. It features a 26 cm-long, nickel-plated, magnetic steel blade with a sharpened tip and edges. The blade is plain with the exception of a maker’s mark on the reverse ricasso of “ORIGINAL EICKHORN, SOLINGEN”, circumscribing the firm’s classic logo of a squirrel clutching a sword. The blade sits securely within a nickel-silver crossguard, which bears a raised Luftwaffe eagle clutching a mobile swastika on the obverse, with the seam covered by an intact black leather buffer pad. The handle grip is composed of a single piece of ribbed light brown celluloid, with the ribbing retaining an original twisted and rolled silver wire cord. It completes with a nickel-silver pommel, bearing double-sided wreathed mobile swastika, screwing in to maintain the dagger’s structural integrity. Accompanying the dagger is its original scabbard, constructed of a pebbled magnetic metal shaft. The upper third of the shaft has two integral oak leaf bands, both retaining loops for the accommodation of a hanger. The throat retains a functional spring catch, firmly holding the dagger in place during storage, and secured together with a single side rivet. Demonstrating no notable damage or wear, the dagger is in an extremely fine condition.