Original Item: Only One Available. This is an excellent early German WWII Heer Army Officer Dagger by Carl Eickhorn of Solingen, complete with its original scabbard, hanger, and aluminum bullion portepee. It retains an exceptional blade with strong factory crossgrain, early style oxide finished fittings, an attractive caramel colored celluloid grip, and the seated squirrel Eickhorn trademark used from approximately 1935 to 1941.

The pommel is in very good condition and appears to have been plated and then given a dark oxide finish, producing a deep blue gray tone. The standing oak leaves and acorns remain sharply defined, with only light wear around the lower edge. The crossguard is finished in the same manner and likewise retains much of its oxide coating, with localized edge wear exposing the silver plated layer beneath rather than the base metal. The eagle remains exceptionally crisp through the head, breast and wing feathering, talons, wreath, and mobile hook cross. The grip ferrule retains much of the same darkened finish.

The celluloid grip has aged to an attractive caramel tone and remains in excellent condition, with only minor wear and staining and no visible cracks or chips. The front is darker than the reverse from differing light exposure over time. There is a slight amount of movement in the hilt assembly on the blade.

An original aluminum bullion portepee is wrapped around the grip and crossguard in the Heer style. It appears to have been on the dagger for a considerable period and remains in excellent condition overall, with only minor fraying to the bullion and some loss of aluminum finish around the neck of the knot.

The blade is one of the strongest features of this dagger. It remains in excellent condition and retains the full factory final polish grind crossgrain on both sides, a finish known in German as Pliesten. It is created by polishing the blades with large leather covered wheels using a slurry of extremely fine grit, and is nearly impossible to replicate using modern means. For advanced edged weapon collectors, the survival of this original crossgrain is an especially important feature because it indicates that the blade has not been aggressively polished or resurfaced after manufacture.

The needle point remains straight and intact, and the edge is correctly unsharpened with no chips or other significant damage. There is only light runner wear together with a few small oxidation stains. These have been left untouched to avoid disturbing the original crossgrain. The original leather blade buffer also remains in place within the guard recess.

The reverse ricasso carries the early Carl Eickhorn trademark:

ORIGINAL
(Seated Squirrel with Sword)
Eickhorn
SOLINGEN

This seated squirrel trademark is associated with Eickhorn production from approximately 1935 to 1941. Carl Eickhorn is a legendary maker from Solingen, the famous "City of Blades" in Western Germany. According to J. Anthony Carter's book, GERMAN KNIFE AND SWORD MAKERS, this company was founded in 1865 by Carl Eickhorn, and is arguably the most famous of all Solingen makers. Not only could the family trace their history back 500 years, but they could also demonstrate involvement in the hardening and grinding industries for the same period. Truly the nobility of Solingen Edged weapon dynasties. Eickhorn edged weapons are the most desirable of all makers. 

The scabbard is constructed from plated steel and originally carried the same dark oxide treatment as the hilt fittings. The plating remains very well preserved, while most of the blue gray oxide finish has worn away from the broader surfaces and survives more strongly along the narrow sides. The body is straight with no major dents or bends and retains crisp pebble grained panels. The carrying bands display overlapping oak leaf and acorn decoration, and the thinner style throat is secured by a single rear cheese head screw.

The original hanger remains attached and is in very good condition. Both pebbled spring clips are functional and are the sliding type, each marked:

D.R.G.M.

The buckles and keepers carry the same oak and acorn motif seen elsewhere on the dagger. The zinc alloy fittings retain portions of their original plating, with some areas still bright and others showing age tarnish. The straps retain their bullion fronts and velvet plush backing, with only light wear along the edges and no major fraying.

With its excellent factory crossgrain blade, early 1935-1941 seated squirrel Eickhorn trademark, strongly preserved oxide finished fittings, attractive caramel grip, original portepee, straight plated scabbard, and D.R.G.M. marked sliding hanger, this is a particularly complete and attractive Heer Army Officer Dagger. The slight hilt movement, minor blade staining, light runner wear, localized fitting wear, and loss of oxide finish from portions of the scabbard are all fully disclosed. It would fit especially well in a Carl Eickhorn, Heer officer, early German WWII edged weapon, or advanced dagger collection.

Specifications:
Blade Length: 10"
Blade Style: Spear Point Dagger
Overall length: 14 5/8“
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. This early war version is quite nice, and in great shape.