Original Item: Only One Available. This is a rare, unmarked, totally original German Early Weimar Period "Deluxe" Model 1902 Style Naval Officer's Dagger. It comes complete with the original brass scabbard and correct portepee. These fittings are based on the Imperial German Kaiserliche Marine Model 1902 Naval Officer's Dirk and feature a brass "Imperial Crown" pommel and a cross guard with round finials and flutes towards the end. The Model 1919/1921 "ball pommel" daggers have a different cross guard, which is essentially the same as the later NSDAP issued examples. This is the second example we have had of one of these rare daggers, and it features a lovely etched Nickel-plated blade with a double fuller, which clearly shows an Imperial Crown on top of the "fouled anchor". This is definitely a great opportunity to pick up a rare dagger!

The "Deluxe" Model is equipped with an open Imperial Crown pommel attachment, as used during the German Imperial period, and features an ivory type grip, wrapped in bullion bound twisted brass wires. This dagger design would be phased out as the Weimar Period continued, and would be replaced by the Model 1929 with a ball pommel, which would remain the standard German Naval dagger until 1938, well into the NSDAP period.

This fine example was almost certainly purchased by a high ranking officer during the Weimar period, probably during the early 1920s. The crossguard is the standard brass type with a fouled anchor panel on the front, with a release button on the rear. The grip is in very good condition, with the color somewhat retained, with fading towards yellow or orange that we often see. This was intended to simulate ivory, which is does very well. The bullion wrapped twisted brass wire wrapping is in very good tight condition, though it does show some oxidation. The scabbard locking button is fully functional and unlocks easily.

Wrapped around the grip and cross guard is a very nice Weimar Period portepee, which were essentially the same as those used during the Imperial period. It is the standard aluminum bullion, but it has the blue and red stripes in the weave not seen during the WWII period. It has a lovely aged look, and appears to be currently tied in the correct Navy fashion, which is quite intricate.

The nickel-plated blade is a very good example, with a lovely fouled anchor etch under an Imperial Crown over a sailing ship on the obverse, while the reverse shows just the sailing ship underway. Both sides have lots of foliate engraving surrounding the designs. The etching on both sides is very nice shape, retaining most of the frosted backgrounds. There is light overall wear, and some light staining where the nickel plating has eroded. The tip is still intact, the leather blade buffer is present, and the edge has correctly not been sharpened. Definitely a lovely example of a very hard to find blade! There are no markings that can be found on the ricasso.

The-brass scabbard is in very good used condition, with a lovely patina of age. The original gold plating is almost completely gone, as it was most likely "Mercury Gilt", which is the type that evaporates over time. The decorative etching on the body is still present and looks great. We cannot see any dents or bends in the scabbard, and the blade sheathes easily. The bands feature overlapping oak leaves and acorns, and are quite a bit more ornate than usually seen. The ring ferrules are the rarely seen oak leaf type, and the rings are still present. The throat is retained by two flush head screws on the narrow sides, which show no signs of turning.

Overall a great early example of a hard to find Very Early Weimar Period Deluxe Model 1902 Naval dagger, made by a well-known Solingen maker, complete with a lovely scabbard and correct portepee. A worthy addition to any knife collection. Ready to display!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 9 3/4"
Overall length: 15 1/8”
Crossguard: 3”
Scabbard Length: 11 1/4”

The Weimar Republic (Weimarer Republik), officially the German Reich (Deutsches Reich), also referred to as the German People's State (Deutscher Volksstaat) or simply the German Republic (Deutsche Republik), was the German state from 1918 to 1933. As a term, it is an unofficial historical designation that derives its name from the city of Weimar, where its constitutional assembly first took place. The official name of the republic remained the German Reich as it had been during the German Empire because of the German tradition of sub-states.

Although commonly translated as "German Empire," Reich here better translates as "realm" in that the term does not necessarily have monarchical connotations in itself. The Reich was changed from a constitutional monarchy into a republic. In English, the country was usually known simply as Germany, and the Weimar Republic name became mainstream only in the 1930s.

The Reichswehr (Realm Defense) formed the military organization of Germany from 1919 until 1935, when it was united with the new Wehrmacht (Defense Force). At the end of World War I, the forces of the German Empire were disbanded, the men returning home individually or in small groups. Many of them joined the Freikorps (Free Corps), a collection of volunteer paramilitary units that were involved in suppressing the German Revolution and border clashes between 1918 and 1923.

The Reichswehr was limited to a standing army of 100,000 men, and a navy of 15,000. The establishment of a general staff was prohibited. Heavy weapons such as artillery above the caliber of 105 mm (for naval guns, above 205 mm), armored vehicles, submarines and capital ships were forbidden, as were aircraft of any kind. Compliance with these restrictions was monitored until 1927 by the Military Inter-Allied Commission of Control.

The Reichsmarine was the Navy Division of the Reichswehr.