Heer Officer Dagger

Product Description: This is an outstanding example of a Heer officer dagger. It’s a desirable, maker marked piece, by Alcoso. The blade on this handsome piece remains in exceptional, near mint condition, and retains nearly all its original crossgraining. There are just a few minor spots of surface age, with graying and freckling, but it is overall very crisp with perfect tip. It’s etched on the ricasso with the final pattern of the Alcoso, Solingen (AWS) logo. The handle on this one shows light age and wear, with all-original appeal. The beautiful white grip retains in very good condition without cracks or any damage at all. All of the fittings are textbook for an Alcoso made dagger, with a correct 12 leaves pommel, Type 3 crossguard, and Type C grip. All of the fittings show a very nice, matching patina. 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 comes with an original matching and correct Heer Portepee, which is complete, with some small frayed areas from rubbing. This Heer officer dagger is complete with its original scabbard, which is correct for this type, with 2 flat side screws. The scabbard is nice and straight, with no dents, and retains the suspension rings. The pebbling is crisp, and the patina matches the handle nicely. This is a beautiful dagger that has a lot going for it. The condition rates as excellent plus 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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