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The German Navy (Kriegsmarine) officially carried daggers as early as the 1840's and continued to wear edged weapons throughout the Third Reich Period. Most collectors are concerned with 3rd Reich Naval dirks which are referred to as 1st and 2nd Model Naval Patterns. Naval dirks were normally produced of gilded brass fittings and scabbard, with white grip and bright blade often having nautical theme etchings. The scabbard was produced with a engraved lighting bolt pattern or had a hammered finish. The so-called 1st Model, actually a Model 1929, was equipped with a round pommel top. After 1938, Naval dirks received a pommel change which depicted a closed-winged eagle which clutched a wreathed swastika. These dirks are often found with a portepee, i.e. decorative tassel wrapped about the grip.

NVL12 - 001 - 25810 – 2ND MODEL NAVAL - WKC

This 2nd Model Naval is a beauty and is about the best condition you will encounter and still have been worn during the period. The dagger is a complete textbook WKC, being identical to the criteria that I lay out in my Naval book on Pages 269 and 270. The pommel is identical to the one shown in the book. It has nearly 100% of its original fire gild over an excellent brass base. This one really looks great! The head, eye, beak, breast feathering and wing feathering are outstanding throughout this bird on both the obverse and reverse. The bird clutches a wreath which contains a mobile swastika. The swastika in the center has a little smoother gilding than the wreath, making it stand out some. The matching cross guard is also like the book, having good, crisp fouled anchor center block depictions, excellent acanthus leaves, and the grooves in the end quillon buttons are also nicely done. The grip of this piece is celluloid over a wood base. The celluloid has turned a fine off-white color resembling ivory. The celluloid is in perfect condition and it is wrapped with twisted brass wire. The wood has shrunk slightly, below the celluloid, accounting for some minor looseness in the wire. It is not going anywhere, though, as the two end pieces are still tightly positioned through the up and bottom reverse holes. A fine looking hilt here! The scabbard is also an impressive example. It is of the lightning bolt type and has nearly 100% of the original fire gilt. There are a couple of spots where the gilding is missing, but they are just below the lower band and probably are from hand wear. It is rare to see a scabbard, though, with this much gilt. The bands are the high-off-the-surface variety, having great detail to the overlapping oak leaves and acorn motif. The eyelets are the triple-serrated type, still having most of the gilt remaining. Even the carrying rings have about 90% of the gilt. This dagger was not carried many times! The lightning bolt motif is deeply stamped in the surfaces, having palmettes around the bands. The lower portion depicts the upward pointing lightning bolts with ermine feet below and acanthus leaves at the bottom. The acanthus leaves have excellent detail and they are identical to the example I have shown on Page 271, lower. The throat of this mint scabbard is retained by two dome head, brass screws. These screws have lost their plating. The blade is the double etched variety. It is the anchor style motif and it has nice frosting behind the raised highlights. This frosting shows only the slightest bit of age in a couple of places. The blade also is bright throughout, having a couple of tiny age marks along the bottom edge of the reverse blade and also a couple of minor scratches near the blade lock assembly. Other than this, though, the blade is a fine nickel plated example retaining its needlelike tip and excellent etch. This blade still rates in easily near full mint condition. The obverse ricasso is stamped with the knight head logo which is positioned over the firm’s initials “WKC”. There is an off-red felt washer in place having some missing material along its bottom edge, but 90% of it is there. You won’t find a better Naval dagger very easily. Mint Minus. $1,495.00

NVL12 - 002 - 27061 - 2ND MODEL NAVAL - CARL EICKHORN

This Naval example is a textbook Carl Eickhorn type. It has the identical hilt fittings as I show in my Navy book on Pages 263 and 266. The pommel is a fine quality brass casting, having excellent detail throughout the half-open winged bird which clutches a wreath swastika. The gilding is still about 70% across the finish of this example. The cross guard is also a fine example, having more gilding looking to be approximately 85% - 90%. This cross guard has a well-defined fouled anchor center block and the quillon arms feature the acanthus leaves on their surfaces. The button ends have good, precise grooves throughout. The off-white grip of this example is in perfect condition, being celluloid over a wood base. The grip is tightly wrapped with twisted brass wire. It is possible to see some of the old residue from years of carrying is still trapped beneath this wire wrap. There is also an original-to-the-piece Naval style aluminum portepee. This portepee is in the Naval reef knot tie and other than a couple of small frays on the high points of the cording and a little bit where it comes out of the knot, this cord is in excellent condition. It has the lower stuffing which is in the cat’s anus pattern, typical of naval portepees. A fine hilt here. The scabbard of this example is straight throughout; having a few signs of carrying, but nothing that could be termed a dent or ding. The scabbard has a lightning bolt design which is deeply rendered. The details to the palmettes, lightning bolts, ermine feet and acanthus leaves at the lower is excellent. The scabbard bands are also finely detailed, featuring overlapping oak leaves and acorns. The eyelets are the serrated type having triple surfaces. The throat of this example is retained by two dome head brass screws.The gilt on this scabbard nicely matches the hilt, being about 85%. The blade of this double etch type is still bright throughout, having fine nickel surfaces and the frosted backgrounds are 100%. These gray frosted backgrounds beautifully highlight the fouled anchor etch. This blade shows almost no age, still retaining its needlelike tip. It is easily in near full mint condition throughout. The blade is stamped on the reverse with the 1935-41 squirrel trademark. The brown felt buffer is in place. A nice Naval dagger here.
Near Mint. $1,395.00

NVL12 - 003 - 27151 – 2ND MODEL NAVAL WITH ORANGE GRIP AND HAMMERED SCABBARD

The orange gripped hammered scabbard Naval dirks have always been in demand, as their good looks are hard to beat. This example falls into the same category. The pommel and cross guard are the typical WKC variety, being the same as I show in my Navy book on Pages 269 and 270. The pommel has excellent detail to the half-open winged eagle and the wreathed swastika contained within. This WKC bird has the thin neck and long beak typical of this producer. The gilt is about 85% - 90% across the surfaces of this brass fitting. The cross guard also has excellent detail with about the same matching gilt. It features foul anchor center blocks with quillon arms having acanthus leaves. The quillons end in button style fittings having lined decoration and small nickel ends. The grip of this example is a very pretty tangerine orange on the obverse. It fades slightly to a more yellow-orange egg-yolk color on the reverse. Chances are, it was yellow when it was originally produced. This grip is an all celluloid example and appears to be in perfect condition. The grip is tightly wrapped with twisted brass wire. There is a fine aluminum Naval bullion knot which has been tied in the Naval tie. This knot is in choice, perfect condition and features the cat’s anus style stuffing used on Naval designated aluminum portepees. The scabbard is a choice hammered finish. It appears to have about 70% - 80% of the original gilded surfaces. The bands are an overlapping oak leaf and acorn style, having eyelets with engraved oak leaves on them. WKC was known to engrave these eyelets. This treatment can be seen on the example shown on Page 271. The bands on this scabbard are slightly thinner than the ones shown on the book example, as they are an earlier version produced by WKC. The same style bands can be seen on the WKC hammered scabbard I show on the example on Page 386. This scabbard shows some carrying time, but no dings. The throat is retained by two brass dome head screws. The blade of this piece is a double-etched fouled anchor type. It shows a little bit of age in the surfaces, but it still remains nice and bright. The tip is needlelike and the etch panels still have about 90% - 95% of the original background graying. This blade grades in excellent plus plus condition. The obverse ricasso is stamped with the WKC knight head and beneath are the firm’s initials “WKC”. The original off-red felt blade buffer is in place. A nice looking dagger here, the types of which are fastly disappearing from the marketplace. A real looker here! Near Mint. $2,295.00

NVL12 - 004 - 26701 – 2ND MODEL NAVAL – CARL EICKHORN

This 2nd Model Naval is in very fine condition, still having most of the original gilt in place across its hilt fittings and scabbard. The pommel and cross guard are the same as I show on Pages 263 and 266 of my Naval book. This pommel has about 85% - 90% of the original gilt. It features excellent detail to the closed-wing eagle. The wreath is nicely vaulted and contains a recessed swastika. The cross guard is also a fine quality brass base example. It features the fouled anchor depictions on both sides of the center block. The cross guard arms go outward and feature acanthus leaves on all sides. The end buttons are nicely lined. The grip is an off-white celluloid-over-wood base. It is in totally perfect condition and has turned a nice, deeper color. This grip is tightly wrapped with twisted brass wire. The scabbard of this example shows a little bit of usage, but nothing in the surfaces that could really be called dents. They are just some carrying signs. This scabbard is the lightning bolt variety. It has good stampings to the details, which feature palmettes on either side of the bands. At the lower portion are the lightning bolts rising upward. Below this are the ermine feet and the acanthus leaves. The gilding to this scabbard appears to be about 85% - 90%. The bands are nicely done, featuring overlapping oak leaves. The eyelets are the triple-serrated type. The throat is retained by two brass base, unturned dome head screws. The blade of this example is a true beauty. It is in stone mint condition, featuring the double-etched fouled anchor motif. The blade has been quality nickel plated and is as bright as the day it was done. The frosting to the backgrounds of the etch is also 100%. This is really a great looking blade! The reverse ricasso is stamped with the trademark used from 1935-41. The squirrel is seated and holds a downward pointed sword. The blade is buffered by a tan felt washer showing minor wear, but still all there. A nice naval dagger here.
Near Mint. $1,295.00

NVL12 - 008 - 26569 - TRANSITIONAL SECOND MODEL NAVAL WITH IVORY GRIP - NO MAKER

This Naval dagger is a 1929 example which was carried through the period and upgraded in 1938. The pommel is the changeover type, being identical to the example I show on Page 229, right. This pommel has good gilding still in its recesses. The bird has excellent detail to his eye, beak and breast feathering. The wreath is highly vaulted with a nicely placed mobile swastika. The depth in the recesses of the curved wings gives a great look to this changeover pommel. The cross guard is the type that we see used on Imperial pieces, having the diamond design with floral arrangements around it on the reverse of the center block. Alcoso continued to use this design throughout the period, but most other producers dropped it. It is possible that this could be originally an Alcoso piece. The obverse center block has the usual fouled anchor design. The acanthus leaves are crisp and the lined quillon ends are nicely done, showing only nominal wear. The grip of this piece is really its biggest asset. This grip is a most beautiful toned hand-turned ivory. This ivory has turned a brown-tan color in many of its surface areas. It has a beautiful grain and just an exceptional look. Apparently, the ivory was cut from the ending area of the tusk, its shape is more ovaled than normally seen. This ovaling would have been the result of the smaller ivory mass that was chosen for grips. This grip is really quite a work or art and its unusual shape makes it worthy of a second glance. The grip is tightly wrapped with twisted brass wire. There are no chips, cracks or any problems with this grip. There is also a nice silver bullion Naval knot tied about the hilt. This knot does have some fraying in places at the top, the wreath knot area and also where the cording comes out, but all in all I think it still looks pretty good on the piece. Mostly likely, it is original to this example. The slide and stem have the silver bullion weave decoration and the lower ball is a standard silver bouillon yarn-like weave. The lower insert is the cat’s anus type that we usually see. The scabbard is an interesting example, being straight throughout. It resembles the scabbard I show on Page 196 of my Navy book, far right, except the “figure 8” bands are not quite as dramatic as the pictured piece. The scabbard has a lightning bolt motif and the stampings are still quite distinct. They feature palmettes over and under the bands. At the bottom are upward rising lightning bolts, and below this, are the ermine feet and acanthus leaves. The “figure 8” bands have roped designs throughout them and they appear on both sides. The rings and eyelets are also roped. The throat is a thinner type and the retaining screws are located very high, being identical to those shown on Page 196, far right. A nice scabbard here. The unmarked blade is a good quality example. It features the standard size ricasso with double fuller construction. It has been quality nickel plated and still remains in fine condition, easily rating near full mint. This blade shows only the most nominal of age if you really look into the surfaces. The green felt blade buffer is in place. An interesting dagger with a couple of regimes of naval history here, and a dynamite looking ivory grip. This dagger would make a nice addition to a naval “type” collection.
Excellent Plus. $2,195.00

NVL12 - 009 - 26602A - TRANSITIONAL 2ND MODEL NAVAL - NO MAKER

This 2nd Model Naval was first produced as a 1929 model. In 1938, its owner had it refitted with the changeover pommel. This pommel is identical to the example I show on Page 229, right, of my Naval book. This pommel has excellent detail throughout the bird’s head, breast feathering and wing feathering on obverse and reverse. The swastika is clutched in a much more vaulted wreath than we see on the later production pommels. This pommel is of high quality brass, exactly matching that of the cross guard. The cross guard is a good-looking example and probably was produced by the Eickhorn firm. It appears to be very much like the Eickhorn examples I show on Page 266. There is excellent detail to the two fouled anchor depictions at the center block. The acanthus leaves, which run outward, are impressive. The quillon ends are nicely lined. The grip is a very attractive off-white celluloid over wood base. This grip looks a little bit thinner than those made later on. It has a most pleasing off-white color and is tightly wrapped with twisted brass wire. A fine hilt here! The scabbard is a lightning bolt type which is equipped with “figure 8” bands. These bands are the same as I show on the example on Page 205. This book example is also an Eickhorn, giving further proof to the fact that this was most-likely an Eickhorn produced dagger. These “figure 8” bands are only on the obverse, the reverse having plain roping style. The eyelets also have a roped design. The scabbard is a lightning bolt stamping. It features palmettes above and below the bands, and at the bottom, are the lightning bolts rising upward. Below them are the two ermine feet and acanthus leaves below at the chape. This scabbard shows some signs of wear and a few scratches on the reverse lower area, but nothing of any significance. It perfectly matches the patina tone of the upper fittings. The throat is retained by two brass side screws. The blade is a plain style. It is a high-quality nickel plated example and remains with needlelike tip and is nearly in full mint condition. This double fullered blade has a tan felt buffer which is another sign that Eickhorn produced this dagger, as this was the type of buffers that this firm used. Overall, this is a fine, clean dagger and would go nicely in many “type” collections.
Excellent Plus. $895.00

NVL12 - 019 - EARLY 2ND MODEL NAVAL - E. & F. Hörster.

This example is of early vintage, having a stamped, not etched Hörster trademark. The hilt fittings are highest quality brass examples. These fittings are identical to the piece shown on Page 284, upper left, of my Naval Book. The gilting throughout this hilt is nearly all there, rating at about 95%. They show little wear. The pommel has fine detail to the swastika, the leg surfaces reflect 100% gild. The crossguard is the style which may be generic, having the little circle appearing at the center section of the anchor flute in the center block. The off-white grip is in perfect condition. It appears slightly more bulbous than most. The reason for this is, the grip is a very rarely seen plaster-filled variety, not the normal wood based type. This original grip is tightly wrapped with gilded brass wire. The scabbard is straight throughout. It is a beauty, being the lightning bolt variety. It is the same as the example shown on Page 283. The gilded finish is mostly all there, rating at near 95%. It has very high-off-the-surface carrying bands. They show lots of detail to the oak leafing and acorn mix. The eyelets have crisp detail remaining to the triple serrated surfaces. The ermine feet and acanthus leaves at the lower end reflect outstanding hand work. The throat is retained by two domehead, brass side screws. This scabbard is even better than the example shown on Page 284. The double-etched blade is bright throughout, having fine background frosted panels. This frosting is about 98%, nicely highlighting the bright raised areas. The blade tip remains factory needle-like. This blade shows only minor age, rating in a near mint condition. The obverse ricasso is stamped with the double ovaled trademark. The circles trap the firm's name and location in between. Inside, is the large "H" with a smaller "H" and "S" being pierced by a sword. This trademark type can be seen on Page 285. The leather washer is in place. A fine dagger. This stamped trademark version is not seen too often.
Excellent Plus, Plus (17172) $ 795.00

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