Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original German WWII Kriegsmarine 2nd Model Naval Dagger manufactured by ALCOSO of Solingen, complete with a hammered brass scabbard and an associated set of naval hangers. It was acquired from a large private collection and presents as a very complete wartime naval dagger ensemble, with its later style hilt fittings, bright unplated carbon steel blade, ALCOSO AWS trademark, original leather blade buffer, hammered scabbard, and service used hangers.

The hilt is of the later wartime configuration, with a less deeply vaulted eagle pommel than earlier examples. The fittings are zinc alloy with a gold colored finish rather than earlier gilt brass construction. Approximately 75% of the finish remains, with expected wear along the sharper edges and raised surfaces.

The celluloid covered wood grip retains an attractive ivory color and shows only light staining and wear. No wire wrapping is currently present. There is some discoloration within the grip grooves that may indicate a wrapping was once fitted, but there are no obvious attachment inlets near the pommel or guard. It therefore cannot be determined with certainty whether the grip was originally produced without wire or whether the original wrapping is now missing.

The scabbard locking button remains fully functional, though it requires a firm push to release the dagger.

The unplated carbon steel blade remains mostly bright and retains the correct elongated ricasso and narrow double fullers of the pattern. There is minor staining from past oxidation, along with evidence of earlier cleaning, particularly near the point and within the fullers where some old peppering remains visible.

The cutting edge has correctly not been sharpened, and the point remains straight and unbent. The original leather blade buffer is still present and shows expected wear from use and age.

The reverse ricasso is stamped with the trademark Alcoso used from 1940-1943. It depicts Alcoso trademark scales logo with the firm's initials, AWS interspersed. Next to this is the firm's name in cursive script

Alcoso

and below the town of business

SOLINGEN

the legendary "City of Blades" in Western Germany. According to J Anthony Carter's Work GERMAN KNIFE AND SWORD MAKERS, Alcoso is a trade name of Alexander Coppel & Co. KG, Stahlwarenfabrik, located in Solingen, the legendary German "City of Blades." The company was a major manufacturer of edged weapons and tools from the end of the 19th century up until the WWII period. Unfortunately, as NSDAP-control increased, brothers Carl Gustav and Dr. Alexander Coppel, the Jewish owners of the firm, were forced out. In 1936 the firm had been "Aryanized", and started using the name ALCOSO to hide the Jewish family name.

By the end of 1936 the brothers were ejected from their Solingen offices, and by 1940 the brand trademark initials ACS were changed to AWS to reflect the change in ownership and name: Alexander Coppel Solingen to Alcoso-Werk Solingen. Carl Gustav Coppel committed suicide in Solingen in 1941, and Dr. Alexander Coppel was arrested in 1942 and sent to Theresienstadt Prison camp, where he died August 5th 1942. The factory itself was destroyed by Allied bombers in November 1944.

The hammered brass scabbard remains in very good condition with an attractive aged patina. The body is straight overall and shows only a few small dents. Much of the original gold colored finish remains, with wear concentrated on the raised hammered surfaces and fittings.

The suspension bands are decorated with overlapping oak leaves and acorns, while the ring ferrules are of the triple serrated type. Both suspension rings remain present.

The scabbard throat is retained by a single flush mounted screw on the reverse. The throat is slightly loose within the shell and can be drawn outward approximately 3mm. The dagger ricasso also binds slightly in the throat, which tends to pull the throat outward when the dagger is removed.

Accompanying the dagger is an original style set of Kriegsmarine hangers in service used condition. The obverse surfaces are covered in black moiré fabric. The reverse of the longer hanger retains high pile velvet, while the shorter hanger appears to have originally used a rougher backing material.

The metal fittings are gilt aluminum and retain a substantial amount of their original finish, with wear visible around the edges of the snap hooks.

The upper hanger retains two functional snap clips, but its regain hook and chain are missing. The lower hanger retains only its upper snap hook, which is presently attached to the scabbard. The scabbard ring is larger than the opening of this hook, indicating that the current attachment arrangement is not ideal.

The hanger fabric shows considerable fraying and service wear, along with areas that may have been repaired with adhesive in the past. These repairs and losses are visible and should be considered part of the hanger condition.

With its ALCOSO AWS trademark, later wartime zinc hilt fittings, bright unsharpened carbon steel blade, original leather buffer, hammered brass scabbard, and associated naval hangers, this is a particularly attractive Kriegsmarine 2nd Model Naval Dagger ensemble. The uncertain original grip wrapping, minor blade cleaning and peppering, slightly loose scabbard throat, sticking ricasso, missing hanger regain hook and chain, incomplete lower hanger hardware, fabric fraying, and possible past adhesive repairs are all fully disclosed. It would display especially well in a Kriegsmarine edged weapon, ALCOSO maker, naval officer dagger, German naval uniform accessory, or advanced German WWII dagger collection.

Specifications:
Blade Length: 9 1/2"
Overall length: 14 3/4”
Crossguard: 3”
Scabbard Length: 11 7/8”