Army Damascus Dagger – Fredericus

Product Description: We are pleased to be able to offer this Army Damascus Dagger – Fredericus. Damascus daggers were an extremely expensive option during WWII; very few were made, and they are absolutely rare to find today, in any condition. This one is excellent. The stunning Damascus blade on this one is all original, never having been sharpened or cleaned. The Damascus pattern to the steel is bold and gorgeous. The tang of this piece is properly marked “P D” with the numeral “1,” indicating the Damascus smith who made the blade was Paul Dinger. This piece has been examined by some damascus experts, who confirm that this blade is unquestionably a Paul Dinger product. The reverse of the blade has the etched logo of “Fredericus,” the firm that made and sold this dagger. The handle on this one is gorgeous, with top quality fittings, as one expects with a damascus piece. All of the metalwork has a matching, light, even patina, and shows beautiful detail. The grip has a very lovely pumpkin orange shade, and is free of chips and cracks. This Army Damascus Dagger – Fredericus is complete with its original scabbard. The scabbard is extremely straight, with no damage, and attractive toning that matches the handle. The single screw to the scabbard rear is intact, as are the suspension rings. The dagger seats in the scabbard like a rock. This is an outstanding example of a dagger that is missing from most collections, and that is not commonly found on the market. It is an exquisite piece.

Historical Description: After WWI, the German military, known as the Reichswehr, was restricted to a relatively small force. Hitler changed this in 1935, reintroducing universal military conscription, and creating a new German Armed Forces- the Wehrmacht. Within the Wehrmacht, the German Army was known as the Heer, and a new dagger was designed and introduced for the officers of this new German Army in May 1935. As with all German Army officer uniforms and accoutrements, they were not issued; rather, the officer had to purchase them. These were ceremonial and decorative pieces of regalia, that were worn on occasions that did not call for carrying a sword. The overall pattern and design of the dagger remained consistent throughout the production run, but the large number of individual manufacturers created a wide variety in details, especially with regard to the handle fittings. There were approximately 42 different manufacturers of the blades. There were construction changes over time as well. Early German Army daggers generally featured plated brass alloy handle fittings. Later, zinc was used. Wartime type scabbards were generally unplated, with a gray finish. Production of German Army daggers ceased around 1943. The German Army was a huge organization, and large numbers of these daggers were produced. But there were many specific variants that were produced in low numbers, especially the highest quality, luxury type pieces for well-heeled officers. Some daggers were personalized, and customized, and are unique. The striking and attractive design of the German Army dagger was well-received by officers at the time, and these are very sought-after by collectors today.

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