Heer Officer Dagger – Eickhorn

Product Description: This Heer Officer Dagger is a very nice and untouched original piece by the firm of Carl Eickhorn, a maker associated with top quality production. This pattern of dagger was worn by officers of the Wehrmacht Army. The blade remains in excellent condition, with a few minor spots of surface age and graying, and a couple of runner scratches. It remains bright and crisp, with a perfect tip. The ricasso of the blade is stamped with the small, third pattern Eickhorn logo. 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 is eye-catching and beautiful, and is textbook for this maker, with a correct 12 leaves pommel and a type 4 crossguard. The grip is a Type C and shows beautiful orange color, with no cracks or any damage at all. The handle retains a very nice original Portepee, which appears original to the piece, with some soft spots and minor fraying from wear. All of the fittings on this dagger show a very nice matching patina. This Heer Officer Dagger is complete with its original scabbard, which has one domed screw on the back side. The scabbard is complete and sound, with no dents. This dagger has a lot going for it. The condition is excellent.

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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