Original German WWII Army Heer Officer Dagger in Scabbard with Hanger and Portepee Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice example of a mid-war production Army Officer’s Dagger, complete with the original belt hanger and portepee. We rarely get nice complete sets like this! The aluminum pommel of this dagger is in very good condition, showing a some wear and scratching around the edge. The original plating is still mostly intact, and has faded to a lovely dark tarnished patina.

The plated crossguard has much of the original plating worn away, leaving a great worn patina. The details throughout the characteristic eagle are exceptional throughout the head, breast and wing feathering, talons and wreathed mobile swas (hook cross). The grip ferrule is also plated, and is in very good condition with much less plating wear than on the crossguard, having been protected by the portepee.

The grip is has faded to a lovely pumpkin orange color, typical of celluloid grips from this period. This grip is in good condition, and the rear side of the grip is a lighter color, having been exposed to less light. There is however an area of chipping on the rear grip, where multiple small chunks are missing. Wrapped around the grip and cross guard is an original aluminum bullion thread portepee (sword knot), tied in the Heer fashion. It does show wear, with areas of the bullion wrapping worn through, showing the underlying rope.

The blade on this example is in very good condition, with an intact tip, showing only a few areas of light staining on the surface, and not much runner wear. The factory final grind crossgrain is visible throughout the blade surface. The edge has not been sharpened since the factory, though there is very minor denting along a lot of it. The leather blade buffer is present and in very good condition.

There are no maker marks that we can see, but that is not uncommon for Luftwaffe and Army officer daggers. Outfitters often purchased unmarked blades from major makers, and would do the fitting themselves. The unique cross grain is definitive for WWII German production.

The scabbard is a fine example, and is plated steel. This straight scabbard has very crisp, finely grained panels. The carrying bands have an excellent pattern of overlapping oak leaves and acorns, which are nicely enhanced. The throat is the thinner style, held in place by a single flush screw on the rear of the scabbard. It is silver or nickel plated, much of which is tarnished or worn away, giving it a lovely oxidized look.

Attached to the scabbard is a good condition belt hanger, with functional pebbled spring clips with a great patina. The buckles and keepers are engraved with the same oak and acorn motif seen throughout the dagger. The straps are in very good condition, with the green velvet on the back is retained about almost completely, with light wear. The fittings look to be later war aluminum, and do not look to be plated.

This really is a very nice Heer Army Officer Dagger with belt hanger & portepee, offered in very good condition, 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. These daggers are often encountered with an aluminum portepee.