Heer (Army) Officer Dagger

Product Description:  This Heer (Army) Officer Dagger has very appealing character. The unmarked plated blade on this one has lots of eye-catching original shine, and is very nice, with full original crossgraining and only slight traces of age. The blade buffer pad is present. The handle has a wonderful look, with a desirable and extremely attractive dark pumpkin orange grip that is free of chips or cracks. The pommel and crossguard show full original detail, with lovely, uncleaned dark toning to the original silver finish. This Heer (Army) Officer Dagger is complete with its original scabbard. The scabbard is complete, with no dents or damage. The original finish has taken on a nice patina from age. There is one small area of corrosion on the back of the scabbard. The suspension rings are intact, with great detail to the oak leaf ornamentation on the retaining bands. This is a great representative example of this dagger type. The condition of this piece rates as 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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