Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice early pattern Army Officer's Dagger, produced by the rare firm of Gebrüder Heller GmbH, complete with its original silver plated scabbard and portepee. The pommel of this dagger is in very nice condition, showing a little wear around the top. The standing oak leaves and acorns are crisply detailed and have good black backgrounds.

The crossguard retains much silvering and has a fine patination. The details throughout the eagle are still present throughout the head, breast and wing feathering, talons and wreathed mobile swas (hook cross). The grip is a very nice caramel color, aged from the original ivory white. This grip is in very condition, with just a bit of chipping on the thinner part of the design. The grip ferrule is also silver-plated alloy, and is in very good condition with a lovely patina, having been protected by the portepee, which is in good condition as shown, with fraying and wear.

The very good condition blade is mostly bright throughout, showing some areas of past oxidation and staining, which were polished out over the years. This has unfortunately made the factory final grind crossgrain very faint in most areas. The tip is still intact, with no bending, just some light wear. Overall finish does show some staining in a few places, though the edge is still nice, with no major chips or sharpening. There is the usual runner wear on the blade surface, however this is present on just about every dagger out there.

The reverse ricasso is marked correctly with the "Balloon Seller" trademark of Gebrüder Heller, and under the trademark is:

GEBR. HELLER
MARIENTHAL
b.SCHWEINA / THR.

Gebrüder Heller GmbH, Stahlwarenfabrik (Steelware Factory) was located in Marienthal bei Schweina in Thüringen, Germany, and was founded in the early 20th century. They manufactured edged weapons for Germany during WWI and WWII, and had a satellite drill bit company in Schmalkalden. For more information, please see J. Anthony Carter's fine work GERMAN SWORD AND KNIFE MAKERS.

The scabbard is a very good example, with a straight steel body that shows no bending or dents that we can see. It still retains almost all of the original silver plating, which has tarnished to a lovely patina in places. The sides still bear crisp finely pebble grained panels. The carrying bands have an excellent pattern of overlapping oak leaves and acorns, though they are made from a softer alloy, and have worn down somewhat. The throat is the thinner style and held on by two dome-headed screws on the thinner sides of the scabbard.

A very nice example from a rarely seen maker, complete with its original scabbard and portepee. Ready to display!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 9 1/2"
Blade Style: Spear Point Dagger
Overall length: 14“
Crossguard: 2 3/4”
Scabbard Length: 11 1/8"

The German Army (Heer) first carried a dagger beginning in 1935. The weapon was worn in lieu of occasions not demanding the wearing of a more formal sword. The dagger design was quite attractive featuring silvered heavy fittings with white or colored grip. The crossguard depicted a Wehrmacht open-winged eagle clutching a wreathed swas.

The pommel depicted oak leafing around the outer circumference. The scabbard had panels of pebble designs. Later produced examples were plated with nickel, and late war-made pieces were unplated, finished in a gray color metal. These daggers are often encountered with an aluminum portepee.