Army Officer Dagger – Eickhorn

Product Description: This Army Officer Dagger is a nice example. It was made by the firm of Carl Eickhorn in Solingen, a maker associated with high-quality pieces. This dagger is correct and textbook for this maker in every regard. The blade remains in good condition, with some corrision issues from the scabbard runners resting against the blade all these years. The surface shows spots of surface age and greying, with couple of typical runner scratches, but remains very crisp, with a perfect tip. The ricasso is etched with the 2nd type Eickhorn makers mark. 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 dagger is extremely attractive. The beautiful orange type B grip retains in very good condition without cracks or any damage at all. The metal fittings on the handle all show a very nice matching patina, and feature a type 2 Eickhorn crossguard and a correct 12 leaves pommel. The scabbard shows nice finish and is a style with 1 flat backside screw. The scvabbard is straight, with no dents or other issues to note. This Army Officer Dagger displays great. 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.

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