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There has been a marked increase in the collecting interest of these era Naval pieces. As more and more information comes to light, I predict these edged weapons will rise in price to incredible heights. They each individually represent an unbelievable period of history--from colonization of Africa and China, to the battle of Jutland--from the scuttling of the Imperial Fleet at Scapa Flow to the rise of the menacing Kreigsmarine. Plan to increase your net worth with a wise purchase now-- and feel the ocean waves as the "Lusitania" goes to the bottom! Examples of the below described Dirks are pictured in the new Johnson/Wittmann Imperial Reference.

IMPNVL - 007 - 3/4 SIZE NAVAL WEIMAR DANCER BY W.K.C.

This beautiful piece is almost like jewelry as it has 100% gild over quality brass fittings. The pommel is the round ball type having excellent detail to the reed and cattails. This depiction is placed over cresting waves which are at the neck of the fitting. The cross guard is the capstan type having a fouled anchor in the center block of both sides. The backgrounds of the block have been random pebbled giving fine relief to the anchor. This is a first class fitting and is most impressive. The grip is also quite beautiful being a very dark orange except for the top rib which is a slightly lighter color. It is possible that there was some type of a portepee covering this piece thus the lighter tone. This grip is in complete perfect condition and is tightly wrapped with twisted brass wire. The straight scabbard is also new-like having the lightning bolt pattern. The ermine feet and acanthus leaves are beautifully detailed with lots of handwork evident. The bands are lined with raised out intertwined oak leaves and acorns. The eyelets are plain with no decoration. The throat is pressed into place without the use of screws. The beautiful blade is the same as the large counterpart having dual fuller construction. It reflects the best of nickel plating and is plain without etching. This blade is easily in full mint condition. The obverse is stamped with the knight head symbol of the W.K.C. firm. A very beautiful dirk which could serve as a mess dress or a dancing type but equally as well as a letter opener on the desk of a high ranking officer. With the exception of the etched blade this piece is identical to the one seen on page 171 left of my Naval Book.
Mint (20014) $3,495.00

IMPNVL - 011 -IMPERIAL NAVAL ENGINEER'S APPRENTICE LIONHEAD BAYONET - NO MAKER

The hilt of this ultra rare example is most beautiful and is identical to the piece I show on page 39 of my Naval Book. The pommel is fashioned in the design of a lion head with open mouth. This cat is fited with the traditional green and red faceted eyes consistent with nautical theme. The detail to the cat's whiskers, lower jaw, brow and mane has been extensively hand enhanced and really looks great. The lion's mane flows throughout the backstrap of the entire hilt. The grip area has been cut with many rib sections for a handhold in the brass. The cross guard is the type with two bowling pin-like quillon arms. Centered on the obverse is a vaulted Imperial crown design with raised finials. The design is quite well done showing the Prussian eagles and cross depictions which go around the crown base. Attached below the cross guard is a small clamshell which depicts a raised fouled anchor design. The design has random pebbling and is very well executed. This one is stationary and is not designed for folding. The scabbard for this piece is a fine black leather shell sewn up the rear. The leather still retains its suppleness and is in near mint condition. This leather features the standard two trim lines on the edges of both sides. It is fitted with plain brass mounts, the lower having an end ball and the upper being fitted with dual ring construction for vertical carrying. Both of these brass fittings are retained with larger style staples. The double etched blade is 16 inches in length. It is in fine condition still being bright and showing only the most nominal of age. This near full mint blade depicts a crown over fouled anchor in the center of both sides, war implements at the end panels and sailing ships at the beginning panels of both sides. The blue felt blade buffer is in place. In the scabbard this piece measures overall 22 inches in length. It is a real beauty and would enhance even the most advanced naval collection.
Near Mint (20015) $5,995.00

IMPNVL - 022 - 1919 MODEL NAVAL CADET W/HANGER - No Maker.

This very rare dagger is a product of the Reich Provisional Navy established in 1919, after the Germans were forced to knuckle-under, to the Versailles Treaty dictates. The fleet had been destroyed or captured, and there were very few members of the Navy at this point. A new dagger was designed for the class of cadets entering the Navy. It featured the ball top pommel first used in 1848, the introduction of the "new" crossguard (this is the one used through the Kriegsmarine), and a black grip - frequently referred to as the "mourning" grip, a term referring to the sadness of the times. The scabbard was a black tube steel. Since there was little money for the Navy, many of these 1919 patterns were produced from existing examples, re-worked. This is the case with this piece. The "ball" top pommel features reeds and cattails, with cresting waves running around the neck base. The tang comes through the top, and is peened over, rendering this dagger a non-take-down status. The crossguard is the early style, having the fouled anchor design on the obverse center block, and the flower design on the reverse block. The quillon ends are the squared style, used early on. There is still lots of gilting remaining on these brass-based fittings. The grip is a beautiful five sectioned, black celluloid. It is wrapped with a very thin, tight brass wire. This grip has a fine sheen to its surfaces, and it is in mint condition throughout. The blade is a double-etched variety, from a previous period. It has been re-worked to fit this 1919 scabbard variety, i.e. ricasso has been ground and tapered thinner. Old etching has a fouled anchor scene and sailing ship motif. This blade is slightly gray, but still is presentable. The scabbard is steel base. It looks like it was re-painted not long ago, but I have owned this dagger at least 15 years, and it looked like that when I originally purchased it - this paint job could be original - just the way they did it. The throat is retained by two domehead side screws. There is only one carrying ring on these '19's. It is a figure eight shape knot on both sides with eyelet and ring. The finish is rope-like. This scabbard is identical to the one shown on Page 74 of the Johnson/Wittmann Imperial Book. There is a single carrying strap. It is a fine black leather strapping, equipped with beautiful, gilted brass, double lion mask Naval buckle assembly. The gilting is still 100% on this great-looking buckle. The strapping has a black snap clip on the bottom, with two-tiered brass box clip on top. Attached to the clip is a chain and hasp - this was used to carry the dagger higher. This hanger assembly is quite rare in itself. Very rare dagger and assembly here. Although it is not the best materials the Germans ever had access to, the workmanship is there, and it is representative of the toughness of the times. Very rare offering.Excellent Plus, Plus (PN8) $2,495.00

IMPNVL - 023 - 1919 NAVAL DIRK W/PROVISIONAL REICH NAVAL STAMPINGS - No Maker.

This original dirk is a complete example of a rarely encountered weapon. The 1919 Pattern was introduced for wear by all cadets and officers after the catastrophe of WWI and the scuttling of the German fleet at Scapa Flow. The dirk was mostly worn by new personnel, as older Kaiserzeit officers remaining with the new Reich Provisional Navy, chose to wear their unaltered Imperial dirk. The new, somewhat morose, M1919 dirk reflected the bad times caused by the lost war and the resultant punishing reparation payments mandated by the Versailles Treaty. The hilt design of these dirks was a return to the 1848 round pommel design worn during better days. A brand new crossguard design accompanied the old round pommel, replacing the capstan style used for half a century. A black grip was utilized, some say to symbolize the "mourning" feeling of the times. The scabbard was a black color, initially having dual carrying methods enabling the wearer to either carry the dirk in a frog or from one suspension hanger. Later the frog method was abandoned, and most dirks were produced with the single ring suspension. The pommel of this dirk is a beauty, produced of quality brass and showing fine detail to the cattail and reed depiction. These marine plants rest upon a series of detailed cresting waves. The blade's tang comes through the pommel top stem where it is peened to secure the dirk. The new-style crossguard was to be used with only slight changes on all subsequent dirks to appear through WW II. This example features a fouled anchor center block on the obverse. The reverse center block has a diamond shape with floral backing. The blade lock is drilled through the diamond center. This crossguard reflects outstanding detail. In fact, both the pommel and crossguard show little wear, remaining very crisp. The black grip is probably a horn material. It has shiny, ribbed surfaces, (there are seven ribs), and it is in perfect condition. The grip is wrapped with a single twisted brass wire. The blade is a plain, unadorned type with double-fullered construction. It is fairly short, measuring only 7 3/4 inches. The polished type finish shows some minor age smudging, but no pitting or other problems. The reverse ricasso is stamped with the rare Reich Provisional Marine proofing used from 1919 to 1921. It consists of an "M" over an unfouled anchor. This same proof mark can be seen on the M1919 example shown on Page 185 of my Naval Book. These scabbards are found with both blued and painted finish. This example is the latter. This black painted, tube steel scabbard is most interesting. Other than the paint (these are usually crudely sprayed, as this one is), this shell is an unadorned plain ovaled tube having traditional Naval end button and separate throat fitting. There is a bayonet lug having the standard two sets of twin decorative lines on the surfaces. Beneath the lug is a riveted piece of spring steel. This spring applies pressure, acting to retain a single, removable Naval carrying band. The band is removable by applying downward pressure. This dual carry set-up is nearly identical to the example shown on Page 185. The only difference is the removable band on this example is a standard overlapping oak leafed type, while the example in the book is a figure-of-eight variety. It is possible this band could be an old replacement, but if so, it is impossible to discern. The band shows little wear and appears to be the identical color brass as is seen on the hilt fittings. The scabbard throat is a steel variety being retained by two domehead side screws. These M1919 examples are extremely rare, as the unpopular black scabbards were discarded by many carriers in 1921, when once again, the brass decorative scabbard was resurrected for wear by Naval officers. Many officers opted to retain only their original 1919 dagger, purchasing the new brass scabbard. You will look a long time to find one of these dirks.
Excellent Plus (16896) $3,495.00

IMPNVL - 027 - 1919 Reich Provisional Naval Dirk, no maker

This is a choice Naval Dirk, which is extremely rare and should be desirable. It is similar to the examples I show in my Naval book on Pages 182-183. This example has a ball top with the new crossguard design having quillon ends with fluted designs. The ball top has the reeds and cattail motif with cresting waves at the base. It is a fine, brass fitting showing fairly good detail, most of which is attributed to period hand enhancing. This pommel is peened over preventing a takedown status. The fine crossguard has good detail to the Naval fouled anchor center block on the obverse. The reverse has the little flower design and there is a blade release button drilled through the center area. This crossguard would be one of the first examples we see of the final design the German Naval crossguard would take. The grip is the black celluloid-over-wood variety. This grip is in totally perfect condition having a fine sheen to its surfaces. It has seven ribs running downward from right to left. These ribs are tightly wrapped with a silvered, springy wire. Nice hilt here! The tube-style, black scabbard is straight throughout and is finished in a blued surface. The bluing is still in perfect condition and the ending button at the chape is in brass as is the throat assembly. This contrast between the two colors is quite effective looking. The upper portion of this blued scabbard is fitted with a bayonet-style lug. This is the only fitting that was ever present on this example, so it would have always been carried vertically. The brass throat is retained by two matching steel side screws. Attached to this fine, rarely seen, scabbard is a slim line, delicate brown leather hanger. This hanger has a loop at the bottom, which nicely goes under the scabbard lug. There is a belt loop built-in design, and a grip-retaining loop with strap. This fine, rarely seen, accouterment is in the same choice condition as the rest of this Dirk. The blade is one of the common, cheaply made styles we see on these 1919 pieces. It is a double-edged variety having a short ricasso forming a “V” design to the blade center ridge. This blade appears identical to the one shown on Page 83. It has a good, nickel-plated surface and remains nice and bright. In fact, this blade is in mint condition. It has a release block as indicated above and is also protected by a tan, felt blade buffer showing some age and wear. This buffer is original to the piece. This is a very fine, authentic example, which would be a key piece for the early Naval collector. 22890 Near Mint $3495.00