Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very good condition Army Officer's Dagger, complete with the original scabbard and belt hanger. The excellent blade on this example is unmarked, but this is not unusual, as many smaller outfitters would purchase finished blades and blade blanks from major factories, and then fit the blades themselves. This dagger looks to have been fit with nickel plated cast zinc and aluminum, which still retains the plating relatively well overall.

The aluminum alloy pommel of this dagger is in very good condition, showing wear down the base metal around the edge, while the sides and bottom display the original plating, now tarnished. The standing oak leaves and acorns around the sides are crisply detailed and have good backgrounds, and the pommel shows a lovely patina overall. The zinc alloy cross guard is in similar condition, and the details throughout the characteristic eagle are very good throughout the head, breast and wing feathering, talons and wreathed mobile swas (hook cross). The plating has worn off more, particularly on the top and rear, which are more exposed and without any embossed designs. The grip ferrule is plated steel, which still has almost all of the plating intact.

The grip on this example is ivoroid, which still retains the original color. This material was much less prone to fading than celluloid. It does show some staining, checking, and other age related wear, as well as some long hairline cracks, but we do not see any areas of chipping or major damage. The original blade buffer is still present in the recesses of the guard, though worn, and the hilt is still tight to the blade.

The blade is in excellent condition, one of the best we have seen in some time, with the original factory final polish grind cross grain retained throughout the blade surface. This texture is iconic, and is the definitive identifying characteristic for a real WWII German Blade. There is just a bit of light wear on the blade flats from the scabbard runners, as well as some scattered oxidation staining, which we have left intact to avoid damaging the grain. The tip and edge are fully intact, making this a truly great example that would be very hard to improve upon!

The scabbard is a fine steel example with what looks to be silver over nickel plating, which is still retained at about 75%, definitely better than we usually see! There are areas of total plating loss, which has allowed the steel to oxidize, mostly concentrated around the front and sides near the hanger rings. The scabbard body is still straight and dent free, and retains its very crisp, finely grained pebbled panels. The nickel alloy carrying bands have an excellent pattern of overlapping oak leaves and acorns, though there is significant erosion from oxidation on the front, in the same area where the steel body shows oxidation. The throat is the thinner style, and is retained with a flush mount screws on the narrow sides of the scabbard.

Attached to the scabbard is a very good condition belt hanger, with functional pebbled spring clips with a great patina. The buckles and keepers are engraved with the same oak and acorn motif seen throughout the dagger, and the hardware looks to be made from all aluminum. The straps are in very good service used condition, showing the bullion on the front well, and the velvet plush material on the reverse is relatively well retained, showing wear on the edges. Fitting on the end of the hanger is the usual box type.

This German WWII Army Officer’s Dagger is complete with its original scabbard and belt hanger and is particularly notable for the well-preserved unmarked blade, which retains strong factory cross-grain finish with only light runner wear and scattered oxidation staining. The plated alloy fittings, ivoroid grip, scabbard, and hanger show the age-related wear, cracking, plating loss, and localized oxidation described above, but remain complete and present well together. Its excellent blade, intact hilt, straight scabbard, and surviving suspension hardware make it a cohesive example of an Army officer’s dagger set.

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. These daggers are often encountered with an aluminum portepee.