Heer Dagger by WKC

Product Description: This Heer Dagger by WKC is a nice complete rig, with great visual appeal. The blade is very bright and attractive, with nice crossgraining along its length and no nicks or other damage. The reverse of the blade is neatly etched on the ricasso with the commercial style knight’s helmet logo of the firm of WKC in Solingen. This dagger has a beautiful handle with an untouched look. The crossguard and pommel retain most of the original finish, with beautiful dark toning that gives a look of depth. The left side of the crossguard does have some minor lifting of the silver plating. The orange Trylon grip shows deep and beautiful color, and is free of chips or cracks. This Heer Dagger by WKC is complete with its original scabbard, which is nice and straight, with no dents. The original finish on the scabbard shows a light, even patina throughout. The suspension rings are intact and retain an original set of hangers. The hangers show only minimal wear. The velvet and brocade straps are complete, with light patina, and the functional metal fittings retain decent original finish and all of the original detail to the ornamentation. The end that would connect to a uniform even has a plated steel spring clip that would go on a dagger belt or integral hanger in a tunic. This piece is a handsome and desirable example of a German Army officer dagger. The condition is excellent plus.

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 detail, especially regarding 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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