Army Dagger by H. Kolping

Product Description: This is an extremely clean and attractive Army Dagger by H. Kolping with a lot going for it. First of all, this piece is in near mint condition. The blade on this is fantastic, and retains nearly all of the original crossgraining. There are a few extremely tiny spots of age graying on the blade. The reverse of the blade has a crisply etched maker mark with the commercial type manufacturer logo of H. Kolping, in Solingen. This is a rather unusual maker to encounter, adding extra desirability to this example. The scabbard fittings are silver plated, with attractive age toning. The detail on the German national eagle and swastika emblem on the crossguard is perfect, there is almost no sign of wear. The grip on this one is a beautiful honey color, and is pristine, with no damage. The original pebbled leather scabbard buffer remains intact, and all of the fittings are tight, with no indication this has ever been disassembled. The scabbard is a perfect match to the dagger, with only minor, even age toning, and barely any trace of wear. It is straight, completely dent-free, and complete with its original rings for attaching a hanger. This handsome Army Dagger by H. Kolping comes complete with an original officers portepee. The portepee shows some minor fraying and age toning to the aluminum wire, which is typical. The condition of this one is really outstanding. It would be hard to find a nicer Army Dagger by H. Kolping.

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 knows 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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