Original German WWII Heer Army Officer Dagger by W.K.C. Waffenfabrik of Solingen with Scabbard Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice 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. The zinc alloy pommel of this dagger is in very nice condition, showing light wear and oxidation overall, with the original plating almost completely removed. The standing oak leaves and acorns are crisply detailed and show some oxidized remnants of the original plating.

The zinc alloy cross guard is in similar condition, overall gray with oxidized remnants of the original plating. 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 is a great caramel orange color, aged from the original ivory white. This grip is in very good condition, with no cracks or other major issues that we can see, and much of the original antiquing present in the grooves. The steel grip ferrule is also silver-plated, and has lost about half the plating, showing oxidation to the base metal.

The very good condition blade is mostly bright throughout, showing almost all of the original cross grain. 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 some staining and oxidation on the blade surface, particularly on the tip of the blade, with some speckling near the ricasso. There is also the usual runner wear on the blade surface, however this is present on just about every dagger out there.

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 originally have been bright zinc plated, which has turned a lovely gray color over the years, while areas where the plating wore through display an oxidized patina. 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.

A very nice example from a legendary maker, 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.