Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice early war Pre-1940 example of the typical German WW2 Army Officer dagger with a belt hanger and portepee, made by the Solingen-based firm of Alcoso-Werk GmbH. The pommel of this dagger is in good condition, showing a bit of wear around the rim but nothing bad, and the silver plating is missing or lifting in some areas.. The standing oak leaves and acorns are crisply detailed and have good black backgrounds.

The crossguard also shows a good amount of silver plating, and has a great oxidized patina. The details throughout the eagle are exceptional throughout the head, breast and wing feathering, talons and wreathed mobile swas. There is a bit of wear through the plating on the edges, and some areas where the plating has lifted, but overall the detail is still great.

The celluloid grips of these daggers often these turn orange over the years, just as this one has, however there is no cracking, and it has a nice deep pumpkin color. This grip is in good condition throughout, with just a few small scratches and chips. Wrapped around the grip and cross guard is an original aluminum bullion thread portepee (sword knot), tied in the Heer fashion. It is intact and in very good shape, with just a bit of fraying in areas..

The scabbard is a fine silver-plated steel example, with a great patina and almost all of original plating intact. There is the expected oxidation in areas near the hangers, and much less under where the cross guard covers. This straight scabbard has very crisp, finely pebble-grained panels. The carrying bands have an excellent pattern of overlapping oak leaves and acorns, with hand enhancing evident on each of the leaves. The throat is the narrow style and is held in place screws on either side of the scabbard.

Attached to the scabbard is a good condition belt hanger, with both spring clips functional and a great patina. The spring clips are the harder to manufacture "Sliding" type. The buckles and keepers are engraved with the same oak and acorn motif seen throughout the dagger, and still have great plating. This hanger is in good used condition. The bullion side has a bit of fraying, and the velvet backing has lost most of the nap (fuzzy portion). The hardware is marked D.R.G.M, indicating that these were registered in the German trademark office.

The carbon steel blade is in very good condition, and has not been sharpened or dropped on the tip. There are several small stained areas, however it still has nearly complete original factory final polish crossgrain throughout. The leather blade washer is still intact and in place, and the needle-like tip is still intact.

The reverse ricasso is stamped with the trademark Alcoso used from 1937-1939. It depicts the scales with the firm's initials, ACS interspersed. Above is the firm's name, ALCOSO in an arch shape and below the town of business, SOLINGEN, the legendary "City of Blades" in Western Germany.

Alcoso was originally 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.

Overall a great example of a German Heer Officer's Dagger, from a maker with a somber back story.

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.