Heer Officer Dagger – WKC

Product Description: This Heer Officer Dagger is a nice piece by WKC. It shows some honest age and wear, with a charming character. The blade remains in very good condition. There are some spots of surface age and greying, with speckling and a couple of runner scratches, but the edges remain very crisp with perfect tip. The WKC maker mark is etched on the ricasso. The original pebbled leather scabbard buffer remains intact, and all of the fittings are tight, with no indication this has ever been disassembled. The handle on this piece is very attractive. All of the metal on this dagger shows a very nice, matching age patina. The beautiful orange type B grip remains in very good condition without cracks or any damage at all. All of the fittings are textbook for WKC, with a type 4 WKC crossguard and a correct 12 leaves pommel. This Heer Officer Dagger is complete with its original scabbard, which has one flat side screw. The scabbard shows some fading to the original finish, and is nice and straight, with no dents. This dagger has an all-original look. The condition rates as very good.

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.

We are the leading team of military antique specialists. We have specialized in military antiques for over 25 years.

Epic Artifacts offers the highest prices available for your collectibles.

We purchase single items, entire collections, or family estates. https://epicartifacts.com/sell-to-us/

Feel free to email us directly: info@epicartifacts.com