Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice early war example of the typical German WWII Army Officer dagger with an orange "pumpkin" grip, made by the Solingen-based firm of E. & F. Hörster GmbH. It comes complete with a belt hanger and portepee (sword knot). The pommel of this dagger is in good condition, though the plating does have wear and patination. The standing oak leaves and acorns are crisply detailed, with part of the original plating present.

The crossguard also shows a good amount of plating, and has a fine patination. 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 a bit of peppered plating and discoloration on the reverse.

The grip is is still a very nice caramel color, a typical color for the celluloid grip from this period. These turn orange slowly over the years, and are quite attractive. This grip is in great condition throughout, with just a bit of staining and crazing in the finish. The grip ferrule is present, and is a bit worn, with a patina matching the rest of the fittings. Wrapped around the grip and cross guard is an original aluminum bullion thread portepee (sword knot), tied in the Heer fashion. It is in good condition, with some fraying near the cross guard.

The scabbard is a fine nickel-plated example, with a great patina and almost all of original plating intact. It is straight with no major dents we can see. The plating is worn through a few spots near the hanging loops. This 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 narrower style and is held in place by a single flush screw on the front.

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 are marked DRGM on the rear where they attach to the hanger clip. This indicates that they are registered with the German trademark office. The hanger straps show light wear, with a bit of fading on the bullion side, however the velvet on the reverse is almost completely intact. 

The carbon steel blade is in excellent condition, almost perfect except for some very light staining. It is otherwise factory bright, with 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 maker marked E. & F. HÖRSTER / SOLINGEN in an oval "lozenge" around the company's trademark downward pointing sword piercing interlocking HHS initials. E. & F. Hörster & Co Gmbh, is a well-known maker from Solingen, the famous "City of Blades" in Western Germany, which marketed many fine edged weapons. The firm lasted long after WWII, finally being declared insolvent in 1996.

This really is a very nice Army Officer's Dagger, complete with hanger and portepee, ready to display!

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.