Horseshoe Army Dagger Hangers

Product Description: This is a great set of hard-to-find Horseshoe Army Dagger Hangers. These model 1935 Heer Dolchgehänge are less commonly encountered than the usual type with a different fitting at the top. The patina on these hangers is all the same throughout, and the stitching has not been touched, so I’m confident these have been in this configuration since the period. The horseshoe back connector, buckles, bands and clips are constructed out of an injection molded zinc-alloy base that has been silver washed. Most depict beautiful detail, with oak leaves and acorns throughout. The grommets and steel prongs are intact. All of the components are held together with two straps that are held to the top connector with a peened-on metal reinforcement piece. The straps are constructed out of a cotton base that is covered in a green wool/felt material (reverse) and a machine embroidered rayon and aluminum flatwire stitching (obverse). Both clips continue to work well. These Horseshoe Army Dagger Hangers are marked D.R.G.M. You can tell that use were used heavily by the amount of wear to the rear velvet on the back of the hanger. This is a very nice set, that remains in excellent condition.

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, 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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