Original German WWII Gebirgsjäger Regiment 136 Marked Army Officer Dagger by W.K.C. with Scabbard, Hanger & Portepee Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a fantastic wartime production Army Officer’s Dagger, produced by the legendary Solingen-based firm of W.K.C. Waffenfabrik GmbH, a highly desirable maker of edged weapons. It comes complete with a lovely belt hanger for the scabbard, as well as a great aluminum bullion portepee sword knot wrapped around the handle. Even better, it has a great engraved unit markings on the back side of the cross guard, which is much more elaborate than we are used to seeing:

Geb. Jäg. (Edelweiß) Rgt. 136

This would indicate that the owner was a member of Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 136., a mountain trooper regiment that fought during WWII as part of the 2. Gebirgs Division (2nd Mountain Division). The Edelweiß flower, found in the mountains of Southern Germany and Austria, is the symbol used by Gebirgsjäger mountain troops. Definitely some fantastic research potential here!

The zinc alloy pommel of this dagger is in very nice condition, showing light wear and oxidation overall, and most of the silver wash is worn away or oxidized. Often as the zinc oxidizes any plating will just flake away, as it has on this example. The standing oak leaves and acorns are crisply detailed, going around the entire side of the pommel, with very little wear.

The zinc alloy cross guard is in similar condition, though it definitely still has a bit of the original silver wash, with the rest showing a lovely oxidized zinc patina. The details throughout the characteristic WKC eagle are still present throughout the head, breast and wing feathering, talons and wreathed mobile swas (hook cross). The leather blade buffer is still present in the recess on top of the guard. The grip on this example is a great ivory colored celluloid covered wood example, which has not faded to orange as so many have. This is the color they are supposed to be, and it is very rare that we see one so unfaded. There is some light staining and a bit of wear, and it also does look to be a relatively late war example, not made as well as they were early in the war. The steel grip ferrule still retains much of the silver wash, and the hilt is still relatively tight on the tang of the blade, though the grip is a bit loose.

Wrapped around the grip and cross guard is an original aluminum bullion thread portepee (sword knot), tied in the Heer fashion. It shows a bit of light wear and fraying. , as well as some bullion loss on the knot, but overall is in very good condition.

The excellent condition blade is bright throughout, showing the original cross grain throughout the blade surface. This texture is iconic, and is the definitive identifying characteristic for a real WWII German Blade. The needle-like tip is intact and unbent, and the edges have correctly not been sharpened. There is the usual runner wear on the blade surface, however this is present on just about every dagger out there. There is also just a bit of past oxidation on the very tip. This is definitely one of the best German dagger blades that we have ever seen!

The reverse ricasso is etched with the trademark “Knights-Head” (Ritter-helm) logo of legendary maker Weyersberg Kirschbaum & Cie of Solingen, over the firms initials of WKC / SOLINGEN. This company is a famous manufacturer of military swords and cutlery in Solingen, Germany – a city famous since the middle ages for its metal-working and craftsmanship in sword making. Per J. Anthony Carter’s fine work GERMAN SWORD AND KNIFE MAKERS, the traditional manufacturing of swords at WKC dates back to the year 1774 when the Weyersberg first registered the ”Kings head” as their trademark. Later in 1883 the company merged with the Kirschbaums and the company Weyersberg Kirschbaum & Cie was formed, which continued into the Weimar Period. It then rebranded as W.K.C. Waffenfabrik GmbH, and produced many edged weapons during the NSDAP Period. The company is still in operation today.

The scabbard is a classic WKC example, and looks to have been zinc plated over the steel body, which has turned a lovely gray color over the years. This scabbard does not have any dents we can see, and it still has crisp finely grained panels. The carrying bands have an excellent pattern of overlapping oak leaves and acorns, with hand enhancing evident on each of the leaves, though they do show some moderate oxidation.

Attached to the scabbard is a very 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 clips are the regular hinged style, made from zinc alloy, and do not have any markings that we can see. The original silver wash is still partly present on some of the hardware, showing a tarnished patina where it is retained. The straps are in very good condition, with the velvet on the back well retained, and the silver bullion front side showing some wear and oxidation.

An excellent Heer Army Dagger from a legendary maker, named to a Gebirgsjäger Mountain trooper regiment! Complete with scabbard, hanger, and portepee, this is the full setup! Ready to research and 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.