Original German WWII Land Customs Official Dagger with Hanger and Portepee by Carl Eickhorn, Solingen – RARE Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice and extremely rare Zollgrenzschutz Land Customs Official Dress Dagger. The Zollgrenzschutz (ZGS) was an organization under the German Finance Ministry from 1937 to 1945. It was charged with guarding Germany’s borders, acting as a combination Border Patrol and Customs & Immigration service.

It originated in the early 19th century as a tariff enforcement unit of the Prussian government. Reorganized in 1919 under the Weimar Republic following World War I, it gradually became more militarized and transformed into a paramilitary force, also due to the economic woes of blockade, inflation and Great Depression.

In NSDAP Germany it was reformed again in 1937 by Fritz Reinhardt, a State Secretary of the Finance Ministry. It came to comprise about 50,000 officials. The Border Police (Grenzpolizei), which had the tasks of passport and border control, was different from the Customs Border Guards (Zollgrenzschutz).

Heinrich Himmler tried to bring the Zollgrenzschutz under the control of the Schultzstaffel (SS), which was unsuccessful at first. During the war, the units were used in occupied territories outside of Germany. A significant portion of younger officials were recruited to the Wehrmacht, leaving the Zollgrenzschutz with older men. After the 20 July 1944 assassination attempt on AH, the units were taken out of the control of the Finance Ministry and placed under Amt IV (Gestapo) of the Reich Security Main Office (RSHA).

It was deactivated at the end of World War II in Europe when Germany was partitioned.

This fine Land Customs example is an early example in great condition. It has silvered fittings, instead of the later aluminum types. All of the components have a deep, dark and beautiful patination to them. The pommel is in excellent condition, showing minor wear to the upper surface. There are the usual twelve standing oak leaves around the edges.

The matching crossguard features an open-winged eagle with wing tips that rise upward. The detailing throughout the guard is exceptional, much better than that seen on the later aluminum examples. The reverse of the guard has some very light freckling but it is not lifting. The silvered ferrule nicely matches the rest of the hilt mounts.

The grip is wood covered in fine dark green Moroccan leather. This leather remains in good condition, tightly wrapped with twisted silver coated brass wire.

The scabbard shell is straight throughout , covered in matching dark green Moroccan leather. Other than some normal wear it remains in great condition, with some minor cracking towards the bottom. The plating on the scabbard mounts are in similar condition, matching the rest of the piece, but appears to have been slightly polished at some point. These mounts are retained by headless side screws and are styled with decorative lines on the obverse only.

The blade is a beauty, with full factory crossgrain and a needle-like tip. The ricasso is etched with the 1935-41 Eickhorn trademark: a seated squirrel holding a sword, with the word ORIGINAL above and Eickhorn / SOLINGEN below. Carl Eickhorn is a legendary maker from Solingen, the famous “City of Blades” in Western Germany. The company was arguably the largest edged weapon and fine steel manufacturer based in Solingen from 1900-1945. Paul Casberg, who worked for Eickhorn was tasked with designing many of the German dagger patterns carried throughout WWII. 

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 belt hanger is DRGM stamped and the fittings are in similar condition to the dagger, with a beautiful dark patination to the coated steel. The green felt backed straps and in great condition with only slight discoloration to the silver and gold on the face. All stitching appears intact with no significant damage.

This is a truly remarkable, scarce dagger from the Land Customs Officials of WWII Germany! Comes ready to display.

Dimensions:
Blade Length: 10”
Crossguard Width: 3”
Grip Length: 4 ½”
Total Length: 15”
Scabbard Length: 11 ½”