Original German WWII Early Army Heer Officer Dagger by Carl Eickhorn with Scabbard – 1935-41 Trademark Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very good condition Army Officer’s Dagger, produced by the legendary Solingen-based firm Carl Eickhorn. The alloy pommel of this dagger is in very good condition, showing moderate wear with much of the original plating still intact and bright from polishing. We do not see any plating wear through, even in the scratches, which raises the possibility that the fittings are made from solid alloy like Tombak or Nickel Silver. The standing oak leaves and acorns are crisply detailed and have good darkened backgrounds, which really stand out against the bright raised portions. There is some denting and nicks around the edge of the pommel, and we do not see any layers of plating.

The plated crossguard is in similar condition, showing some wear but also bright and shiny, made from the same type of alloy. The details throughout the characteristic eagle are exceptional throughout the head, breast and wing feathering, talons and wreathed mobile swas. The grip ferrule looks great, bright with antiquing between the oak leaves, and looks to be made from the same alloy as the fittings. The celluloid grip on this example looks to have been exposed to a lot of light, and is now a dark orange color, almost brown. There is some wear in areas which show a lighter color, and there is no cracking or chipping we can see. There is a bit of staining and dirt in the grooves of the design.

The blade on this example is in very good condition, with some scattered light oxidation staining, and light wear from cleaning and the scabbard runners. The factory final polish grind cross grain is present throughout the blade, and can be seen easily in the light. This texture is iconic, and is the definitive identifying characteristic for a real WWII German Blade. The needle-like tip is still intact, with no bending, and the edge is still nice, with no chips or sharpening. This is definitely a very nice blade, with just a bit of staining, and the cross grain a bit faint in areas due to cleaning.

The rear of the blade is clearly etched with the 1935-41 Eickhorn trademark: a seated squirrel holding a sword, with the word ORIGINAL above and the firm’s name and location, Eickhorn / SOLINGEN below. Carl Eickhorn is a legendary maker from Solingen, the famous “City of Blades” in Western Germany.

According to J. Anthony Carter’s book, GERMAN KNIFE AND SWORD MAKERS, this company was founded in 1865 by Carl Eickhorn, and is arguably the most famous of all Solingen makers. Not only could the family trace their history back 500 years, but they could also demonstrate involvement in the hardening and grinding industries for the same period. Truly the nobility of Solingen Edged weapon dynasties. Eickhorn edged weapons are the most desirable of all makers. The original leather blade buffer is in place within the recesses of the guard.

The scabbard is a fine example, and is made of high quality plated steel. It does show a dent on the interior side towards the bottom, but this does not interfere with sheathing the blade. This scabbard has very crisp, finely pebble grained panels, and the carrying bands have a very nice overlapping oak and acorn motif, a common design seen on German edged weapons. The throat is the thinner style, and has a single flush securing screw on the rear of the scabbard. The finish looks to be silver or nickel, and is still well retained, with a few very small areas of plating loss that have oxidized.

A lovely example from the most legendary of all Solingen makers, complete with scabbard. Ready to display!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 9 1/2″
Blade Style: Spear Point Dagger
Overall length: 14“
Crossguard: 2 3/4”
Scabbard Length: 11 1/8″

The German Army (Heer) first carried a dagger beginning in 1935. The weapon was worn in lieu of occasions not demanding the wearing of a more formal sword. The dagger design was quite attractive featuring silvered heavy fittings with white or colored grip. The crossguard depicted a Wehrmacht open-winged eagle clutching a wreathed swas.

The pommel depicted oak leafing around the outer circumference. The scabbard had panels of pebble designs. Later produced examples were plated with nickel, and late war-made pieces were unplated, finished in a gray color metal. This early war version is quite nice, and in great shape.