Original Item: Only One Available. We just received this very nice dagger out of a large private collection. It is a fine Solingen-Produced totally original WWII German 2nd Model Naval Dagger by Carl Eickhorn, complete with the original plated "lightning bolt" style brass scabbard. This is a very nice gently worn example, with a very nice etched carbone steel blade.

This example was almost certainly purchased by a high ranking officer later in the wartime period, as the pommel is a post 1941 type. It has very deeply inset wings and an impressive vault wreath. The details to this bird are also choice, with a striking eye, beak and breast. The crossguard is the standard gilt brass Eickhorn type. The grip is in excellent condition, with an unfaded ivory color celluloid covering, with just a bit of wear. The twisted brass wire wrapping is in excellent tight condition. There is little wear to the grip overall, so it does not appear to have been worn often. The steel scabbard locking button is fully functional, though it has lost the gold finish.

The blade is a very good example, with an excellent fouled anchor etch on both sides of the bright steel blade. The etching on both sides is beautiful, retaining almost all of the frosted backgrounds. There is some light wear and surface scratching, but only a few spots of oxidation, making this a great example. The tip of the blade is just slightly bent, and the original felt blade buffer is in place.

The blade's ricasso is stamped with the post 1941 Eickhorn simplified trademark: a seated "regardent" squirrel looking backward over its shoulder, with the firm's name and location, ORIGINAL / EICKHORN / SOLINGEN below. 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 "lightning bolt" scabbard is straight, and just has a few small dents. It's stamped with well-defined palmettes around the bands and lightning bolts, ermine feet and acanthus leaves down to the bottom chape. The bands feature overlapping oak leaves and acorns. The ring ferrules are the triple serrated type, and the rings are still present. The throat is retained by two flush mount screws on the narrow sides, which do not appear to have been removed. The finish overall is in very good shape, with most of the gold coating remaining, showing some wear through between the hanger loops.

Overall a great example of a hard to find dagger by the most legendary of all Solingen makers, complete with a great scabbard. 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”