The German Navy or 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.

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1.  NAVAL #33551C Imperial Naval Dirk with Damascus Blade - WKC

   This Imperial Naval Dirk is of a vintage, probably produced before or at the start of the Great War. The dagger’s mounts are all in good brass construction. The gilding remains at, maybe, 30% or 40% throughout the piece. The pommel is a fine high finial-type. This pommel has 4 finial struts that are serrated and go upward to retain an orb with a simulated cross on the top. The cap below has 8 dome sides which are pebbled throughout their borders. Each of the sides alternates a cross with a Prussian Eagle. At the top of the pommel, below the finials, the surfaces have been diamond shaped with a depression in the center of each. A nice cap here. I took a look inside and the cap has 3 small dots, which were a numeral marking by the original assembler. The crossguard is the typical fouled anchor motif in the center blocks. The anchors are nicely raised with good detail and have pebbling in their backgrounds. The quillon arms go outward, having a pebble design to each of the four surfaces. The quillons flare to resemble cap stands. A nice guard here. The grip is an ivory example that, unfortunately, has some cracking and a repair on the reverse. Apparently, a small piece of the ivory did come out of the lower reverse rib and it appears to have been replaced somewhere along the line. So, there is no material missing in this reverse area. The obverse also has a crack that runs down about 3 ribs of the right edge, but this is not threatening in any way. The obverse also has beautiful graining and a golden tone to its texture. The reverse of the grip has graining but is not quite as toned. This grip is tightly wrapped with twisted brass wire.

   The hilt is decorated with a fine original Imperial portepee. This portepee is the silver bullion-type, having black and red flecks that run throughout the cord. There is a small series of old string that is wrapped around the cord below the area of the crossguard. This was obviously done to protect an area that was beginning to fray. The slide and stem have the “V” decoration in the bullion, and the lower ball is yarn-like silver bullion with an insert of red, white, and black. The scabbard of this example is straight showing some signs of usage, but no dings or problems. This scabbard has a lightening bolt design. The stampings are excellent to the pomettes above and below the bands, and to the lightening bolts and feet and pointed acanthus leaves at the lower end. The bands of this example are simulated rope, having knots on the obverse. The eyelets also simulate rope. The throat is retained by two domehead brass screws. The original gilding can be seen clinging around the protected areas of the bands, as well as a little bit in the acanthus leaves and lower chape button.

   The blade of this example is a fine Damascus. It is the normally seen maidenhair pattern. The pattern is still quite bold and free of rust or age. There are only a couple of places where the metal is slightly age-toned, but it is extremely nominal. The blade is formed with a ricasso and double fullers. The tip is still needle-like. This blade, overall, grades at least at excellent plus, plus. On the reverse ricasso, just above the blade release lock, is the stamped knighthead logo. The details are outstanding to this knighthead and it is the later type first seen about 1912. This blade is buffered by a tan felt example. The overall length of this blade is 9 inches, while the scabbard length is slightly over 11 inches. We see this disproportion a lot with Imperial Naval daggers. The reason for this was that the longer scabbard was used to correct the balance of the dagger and keep it at a 45-degree angle, since no weight was set into the interior as was done on 3rd Reich pieces. This is a good honest Imperial Naval, having the desirable characteristics of ivory grip and Damascus blade. It does show some usage and age, but it certainly is what it is and is priced accordingly. A good opportunity here to acquire are a difficult-to-find dagger anymore.

   Excellent. $3,995.00

2.  NAVAL #33621C 2nd Model Naval with Orange Grip, Hammered Scabbard, and Sailing Ship Blade - WKC

   This 2nd Model Naval Dagger is the one that everyone is always looking for. It has outstanding gilded surfaces throughout, and is a fine dagger. The pommel and crossguard are textbook WKC. This dagger looks identical to the example I show in color in my Navy Book on page 366. The WKC pommel and crossguard are outstanding examples. Both parts have exquisite detail throughout. The pommel shows a fine eagle head with half-opened wings clutching a raised wreath with mobile swastika. The crossguard has good fouled anchor center blocks, acanthus leafed crossguards, and fine engraved button ends. The gilding throughout is about 85% to 90%. The grip of this example is a beautiful solid pumpkin-orange color. It is exactly the color one of the book piece. It is in perfect condition, except for a small chip on the reverse upper rib. There are no worries here, though, as the existing portepee covers it entirely. This grip is tightly wrapped with twisted brass wire. The portepee is the nylon type and it is nicely toned. It is set in the Naval tie and is in perfect condition throughout. The lower ball has a gray thread insert that we usually see on Naval designated knots. A beautiful hilt here!

   The scabbard is straight throughout. It has an outstanding hammered finish, identical to the book piece on page 366. The gilding throughout this scabbard is probably about 50% to 60%. The upper area on the obverse has most of the gilt still intact and it is worn slightly on the reverse, as well as both sides of the lower area. This scabbard has the hammered chape button also. The bands are the high-off-the-surface type with beautiful oak leaves and acorns. These bands are connected to eyelets that have engravings of oak leafing, typical of WKC. Beautiful work here! The throat is retained by two brass side screws, both of which still have most of their gilded finish.

   The double etched blade is nice and bright throughout, still having its needle-like tip. It shows almost no age, having exceptional sailing ship etch motif. All of the gray backgrounds are intact. The obverse features a centered fouled anchor over a beautiful sailing ship placed on a bed of sea plants. The reverse eliminates the anchor and features a larger sailing ship on sea plants. Outstanding blade here, rating in near full mint condition. The obverse ricasso is deeply stamped with the knighthead trademark, having the firm’s initials below, “WKC”. The original off-red felt washer is in place. This is an outstanding Naval dagger, showing some usage of the period, but in extremely collectable condition. We see the examples with fouled anchor-style blade, but the sailing ship type is very very difficult to come by. In my opinion, the sailing ship blades were produced prior to the fouled anchor type. A great opportunity here to acquire an investment-quality Naval dagger.

   Excellent Plus, Plus. $2,495.00(#012512)

3. NAVAL #33377 2nd Model Naval Dagger with Original Portepee - E. & F. Hörster

   This early 2nd Model Naval Dagger example shows some wear and speaks of the period. There is little gilding left on the fine brass mounts, but all are in good condition. The hilt mounts are identical to the example I show in my Naval Book, on Page 284 and 285. The pommel has excellent detail throughout with good eagle head, half-open wings, wreath, and vaulted swastika. The matching cross guard has fine detail to the center blocks with fouled anchor and to the acanthus leaves raised out on all four of the quillon arms. The end button has good grooving throughout with the large extended nipples on the quillion tips. The grip is a pleasing off-white color with some signs of usage, but no cracks or problems. The tightly-wrapped grip wire is twisted brass, which has trapped some of the old residue between the ribs - always nice to see! The original-to-the-piece portepee is a most interesting example. The portepee is tied in the double-reef knot and is set-in-place from many years of being left alone. There is no fray, only age to this knit. The cording is the aluminum bullion type, and the lower slide, stem and ball are silver bullion - a great-looking mix here and most unusual to see. The silver bullion has toned to a gold color contrasting with the aluminum bullion cord. The stem and the slide have the "V" weave decoration - a really great knot here!

   The scabbard shows some wear time, but is still straight throughout. It is the lightning bolt variety having good stamping the palmettes, lightning bolts, ermine feet and acanthus leaves below. The bands are still nicely detailed with their overlapping oak leaves and acorn mix. The eyelets are the type we see frequently used by this producer (I think these scabbards are "generic" but Hörster used them alot). The eyelets have the deep-grooved, triple-serrated tops and there is a slight sleeve to the openeings where the rings come out. This scabbard is the same as is shown at the left in the top picture on Page 284. The throat is retained by two dome head side screw. Like the hilt, there is not much gild remaining on the scabbard. The blade of this example is a fine one, having the double-etch, fouled anchor designs. The nickel plating is real quality throughout, highlighting the raised etch detail. This blade is easily in a near full mint state. The obverse ricasso is stamped with the earlier logo used by this company. It features double ovals with the firm's name within - "E u. F. Hörster, Solingen". Inside, is the large "H" letter, having a smaller "H" over "S" positioned within the large letter. The original brown leather washer is in place showing mild age and wear. A fine example showing usage of the period, but no abuse and good collectible condition.

   Excellent Plus. $1,495.00

4. NAVAL #33460C Third Reich Period Small-proportioned Dancing Dirk - WKC

   This 3/4 sized Dancing Dirk is extremely rare, having the 3rd Reich 1938 pommel option. Very few of these exist and this is the first example I can remember offering to the collecting public. This exquisite example is 11 inches overall length being identical to the choice colored example I show in my Naval Book on Page 508. It is a real heart-stopper! The pommel is spectacular being rendered with the finest of detail throughout. This pommel reflects hand detail engravings to the eagle's head, half-open wings, breast feathering, talons, oak leaved wreath and raised swastika. The crossguard is the Imperial type. (WKC used the same crossguard and scabbard design with the model from the imperial time, the Weimar period and the 3rd reich models, changing only the pommel to reflect the regime in power). The guard features center blocks with fouled anchors on both sides. The quillon arms extended outward in four plain surfaces, graduating to detailed capstan ends. The built-in collar above the cross guard simulates cresting waves. The grip is a most attractive, deep-colored orange. This grip is in perfect condition except for just the slightest surface fleck which has come off the very end of the top rib, just beneath the pommel. The fine grip is tightly wrapped with twisted gilded brass wire.

   The matching brass scabbard is a lightning bolt design, having very deep engravings to the palmettes around the bands, and below, to the lighting bolts, ermine feet and standing acanthus running to the chape. The end button is plain. The bands are an Imperial design being high-off-the-surface and having edged borders. The band inner areas are lines and topped with continuing oak leafed sprigs having dual acorns positioned between each leaf. The eyelets are rounded with flaired ends and having plain surfaces. The scabbard is free of any dents or dings. The double etched blade is of finest quality reflecting mirror-finished surfaces. Both blade sides have floral, raised etch designs with frosted backgrounds effectively highlighting the impressive etches. This blade is in full mint condition, complete with needle-like tip. The obverse ricasso is stamped with the Nazi-period trademark used by this firm. It features a proportionally small knight head with the firm's initials below, "WKC". The original off-red felt blade buffer is in place, showing some mild wear and age to its surfaces. This dancing dirk is the Coup de Grace of an advanced Naval collection. The model dirk with the Nazi pommel is nearly impossible to find. If you are hoping to eventually complete a serious Naval collection, it is hard to imagine that this dirk could be passed up. A rare opportunity here to acquire one of rarest 3rd Reich naval dirks in existence. I acquired one of these for own collection a couple of decades ago, or believe me, this one would not be available!

   Near Mint. $7,995.00

5. NAVAL #33343 Second Model Naval Dagger with Orange Grip and Hammered Scabbard - WKC

   This very desirable WKC 2nd Model Naval Daggere dagger has textbook WKC mounts. The pommel and cross guard being identical to the example on page 366. These mounts have maybe 30-40% of the original gilt in the recesses. They do not look to have been cleaned since the War, so they have pleasing patination throughout their surfaces. The WKC pommel has the great looking eagle’s head with beak and good detail to the breast feathering below. The bird grasps a wreathed mobile swastika in its talons. The cross guard has the standard fouled anchor depiction on both sides of the center block, and both cross guard arms have the acanthus leaves on both sides. The end buttons show nominal wear with good enhanced engravings and nipples at the center. The grip of this example is a fine dark pumpkin color orange showing a little bit of lighter tones at the upper and lower where a portepee had once graced the piece. Also, the reverse grip is just the slightest bit lighter in color tone. This beautiful grip is in perfect condition, except for just the slightest hair-liner on the right reverse lower edge. It is nothing however, and would easily be covered with a portepee. This beautiful grip is tightly wrapped with twisted brass wire.

   The scabbard is identical to the book piece on page 366. It is a peened variety and is straight throughout. This scabbard has a little less gilt than is shown on the book piece but still has some remaining gold in the lower recesses and also in the areas protected by the bands. The bands are the style with the overlapping oak leaves and acorn mix. These bands still have outstanding detail. The eyelets are the traditional WKC type when seen with hammered scabbard – they have oak leaves engraved into their surfaces. The throat is retained by two dome head brass side screws. The blade of this example is as nice as you will see. It is a very high quality nickel plated type, still having its needle-like tip. The double etches are the fouled anchor variety. The gray backgrounds remain at 100% and really set off the beautiful crisp etch. The anchors are extremely well done, as are the decorative sea plants, which are spaced around the beginning and end etch areas. This mint blade is stamped on the obverse ricasso with the knight head trademark. Beneath the logo is the firm’s initials “WKC”. The original brown leather blade washer is in place. If you are looking for an affordable orange gripped pebbled scabbard naval, this one should suit your purposes. It is a very fine dagger, and if cleaned would really turn some heads.

   Excellent Plus. $2,195

6. NAVAL #33361C Second Model Naval Dagger - WKC

   This 2nd Model Naval Dagger is in a choice, preserved condition. It is a textbook WKC and has much of the original gilding still clinging to its surfaces. The pommel appears to identical to the example I show on page 272 of my Naval book, and the cross guard is the same as page 274. The pommel and cross guard both have a good amount of gilt remaining which appears to be between 80-90%. The pommel has good detail to the bird’s head, beak, breast feathering, half opened wings, talons, wreath, and raised-out mobile swastika. The cross guard has the traditional fouled anchor center blocks on both sides, and the cross guard arms have good acanthus leaves on both sides. The button ends have deep hand grooves with crisp nipples at the end. The grip is a very fine off-white celluloid-over-carved wood base. The celluloid has nicely toned to an ivory color and it is in perfect condition being tightly wrapped with twisted brass wire. Setting off this fine hilt is the original nylon naval portepee. This portepee has toned quite a bit and is completely set in place. The naval tie is done quite beautifully with a fancy extra twist at the upper loop. There is no fraying on this knot, only age tones. The slide and stem are the style with the “V” weave designs. The lower ball is yarn-like nylon and has a gray thread stuffing, typical of naval allocated knots. A very fine portepee here. This hilt is as nice as you will see!

   The scabbard is the lightning bolt style. It has the same deeply stamped designed as is seen on the example on page 274 lower. This scabbard has good depth to the palmettes, the lightning bolts, the ermine feet and to the acanthus leaves at the bottom. It is dent-free, only showing a few signs of nominal carrying. The bands are the high-off-the-surface variety featuring overlapping oak leaves with acorns. The eyelets are the triple serrated type, being crisp throughout. The gilded rings still have a small amount of the gilt remaining to the surfaces. The gilt throughout the rest of the scabbard is nearly 100%. The throat is retained by two toned domed head brass screws. An extremely fine scabbard here! The double etched blade is a complete mint example. This blade has very bright mirror finish with needle-like tip. The fouled anchor etches are the best you will see being extremely bright against the gray backgrounds. A wonderful mint blade here. The obverse ricasso is stamped with the knight head trademark. The stamping was not done directly, so a little bit of the reverse of the knight’s head is slightly vague. The logo is positioned over the firm’s initials “WKC”. The “C” letter is also slightly vague. This beautiful blade is buffered by the original off-red felt example. There is just a little bit of wear to the obverse edge of the bugger, but otherwise, it is all there. If you are looking for a fine textbook WKC dagger in choice condition but still worn during the period, then this example should be for you.

   Near Mint. $1,695

7. NAVAL #33378 Imperial Naval Dirk with 1938 Upgrade Pommel

   This Imperial Naval Dirk is a most interesting example because it is named to a Leutnants zur See. The name is “Stader” and we will get to more of this importance later on in the description. It is interesting to note that Wilheim Stader was born September of 1898 and joined the Imperial Navy in April of 1916. This all makes sense as this dagger is an iron base type, still having about 95% of its original gilt. As seasoned collectors know, after WWI began, brass was at a premium for the war effort so naval daggers were made of iron in order to conserve materials. This all jives nicely with the record of Wilheim Stader. The pommel that is installed on this dagger is the 1938 replacement type which featured the eagle with the swastika. I show a number of imperial daggers that are equipped with this replacement pommel in my Naval book. You can see a piece on page 232 that has the exact pommel installed. There are other examples on page 234, 235 as well as page 237. I also show a great close up of this pommel on page 229 left. The pommel, of course, is of brass and it is highly patinated but still looks to have quite a bit of the original gilt in the backgrounds. Looking at Stader's record, I see that he stayed with the navy after WWI and obviously, this would account for the upgrading of his dagger as he continued to wear this imperial dagger as opposed to buying a new example. The cross guard is a fine iron base example featuring the center block fouled anchors on both sides. The quillion cross guard arms go outward being four-sided. They are peened on all surfaces. At the quillion ends they are flared to the capstan shape and are fluted around the circular inner area. The upper part of the cross guard which contains the acceptance neck for the grip also has fluted engravings. The gilt on this cross guard is about 95%, showing only wear on the very high edges. The grip of this example is a very beautiful genuine ivory. The grip has a striking golden area on the surface mixed with lots of prominent grain. The reverse has still stayed mostly white, but the graining is still quite prevalent.

   The edges of both sides also have beautiful graining, which at first looks like minute cracking, but I believe it is not. Either way, this ivory grip is simply gorgeous! There are no chips or problems anywhere in the grip. The grip is wrapped with a fairly large twisted brass wire. The wire wrap is just slightly loose which is an indication that the ivory has shrunk just a little bit over the last century. It is also interesting to note that years of dirt and residue have left their signs in the lower areas between the grip ribs. A great look here for those who appreciate the history that remains on an untouched dagger. The scabbard is a steel or iron base and it is as straight as an arrow. This scabbard reflects heavy peening decoration and really looks great. The gilt is all there, except for the very high spots. The bands are also most interesting being an overlapping oak leaf and acorn mix, but they are narrower than the later types and also are higher off the scabbard. The eyelets are quite striking also being engraved with oak leaves throughout the surfaces. The rings have also been peened to match the scabbard. The lower chape is also peened. The scabbard throat is retained by two dome-head brass screws which are highly age-toned and are unturned. A really fine matching scabbard here. The unmarked blade is also a very interesting example. It has the double fuller design and it is slightly wider than we normally see in these blades. Additionally, the blade is double etched with a pattern design that I have never seen. Both etches have the same decoration at the end which appears to be a flower-like device, but could be a sea plant. In the panel throughout, there are frosted backgrounds and at the bottom area there are raised floral decorations on which rests a fouled anchor with a long dangling chain. Above the anchor is an imperial crown with cross on the top. The detail to this etch is really fantastic. The reverse etch presents a large fully rigged sailing ship on a sea which is further placed on top of a series of sea plants. The ship has many, many ropes throughout the sail rigging and also lots of detail to the super structure. This is a great looking etch!

   The original owner's name is neatly engraved into the obverse ricasso “Stader”. Stader served as a Fähnrich on the ship “Freya” and “Helgoland”. This was from May 1916 to August 1916. After that, he was transferred to the “Nassau” in March of 1917. During April 1917 to April 1918, he was transferred to the naval school for torpedo boats. When the war ended, the records indicate that he remained with the navy after March 1919. It would be a good research project to see where he went from there. Because we have the changeover 1938 pommel, we know for sure that Stader continued to serve with the German Navy. A great research project here! The original off-red felt buffer remains with the dagger showing some wear around the edges, but is still almost 100%. I believe that this is a great dagger here and should have some good research possibilities for the right person. An excellent example to highlight a fine Imperial and Third Reich collection.

   Excellent Plus. $2,995

8.  NAVAL #33352 Model 1919 Naval Dirk in Upgraded 1921 Model Scabbard

   This Model 1919 Naval Dirk is of great interest to the naval dirk collector as it shows the two transitional periods after the loss of WWI and the wearing of naval pieces during the post WWI period and the establishment of the Reichsmarine in 1929. After the war, the navy was one of the most forlorn and disillusioned of the German forces. They decided to do away with the former naval design and adopt something that represented more success. Therefore the 1919 dirk design came into reality, using the old 1848 design pommel top and a new cross guard design. The dirk was mated with a steel black painted scabbard which was worn until 1929 when a better looking brass example was adopted. This dagger is the 1919 version mated with the 1921 scabbard. The components of this piece are all brass throughout. The pommel is a fine ball top which does screw off. The pommel features reeds and cattails that run around the perimeter and at the bottom is a base of cresting waves. The pommel shows age and some wear but it is still easy to see that some good handwork went into the detailing of this presentation. The cross guard is the new type adopted in 1919 having the center block fouled anchors with cross guard arms presenting acanthus leaves on both sides. The quillions end with fluted round diameters with nipples in the center ends. The detail throughout these depictions is still pretty good showing some wear and age but still all there. The blade release button is drilled through the center of the reverse cross guard. It is interesting to note that the reverse cross guard, like many from this vintage, has a floral design rather than the fouled anchors. The grip appears to be made of a horn or possibly a hard wood. This block grip appears to have possibly a painted surface but if it is paint, it has held up extremely well as it is still all there. The grip is bulbous in the center tapering equally to both ends. The grip features five ribs which flow downward from right to left. These ribs have a twisted brass wire wrap which is still nice and tight with holes drilled for retention at the upper and lower rib areas. Not a beautiful hilt here but once you understand the significance of it, it will start to look a lot better to you. Maybe its like that ugly girl in the bar at 8 o'clock that turns into a beauty around midnight after a few drinks!

   The scabbard is a straight brass example which features a lightning bolt pattern. The scabbard has stamped palmettes which are over and above the carrying bands, at the lower there are lightning bolts coming up from small ermine feet which are in turn positioned over pointed acanthus leaves. This design is slightly different from the later types but it is also interesting the way it is showing early development. The bands are simulated rope with reef knots on both sides. The eyelets have a rope-like look to them which was hand done and the rings are plain. The bands have a century of dirt and residue in the crevasses. The thin throat is retained by one flat head brass screw on the right side. This scabbard is nice and straight throughout and showing lots of patination. The blade of this example is one of the more crude type that we see used during the 1919 period. Many of these blades were cut down and reshaped from older examples. This blade looks very similar to the piece shown on page 197 right and the scabbard looks nearly identical to the example shown on the far left. The blade has a fairly long ricasso which runs to a point and continues as a center ridge down the double edged blade. The tip is still good on this blade. The blade shows some age graying and some scratching and does not appear to have ever had an etch on it. The blade measures about 8-½ inches in length which is some what shorter than the scabbard. We see this all the time though with naval dirks as there was no weight in the scabbard for counter balance so the angle of wear was achieved by a shortened blade to give more heft to the upper part of the dagger. Many collectors wonder about these shorter blades but it is seen all the time. A good example of this can also be seen on page 96 right. This blade only grades at good and it is equipped with an excellent locking mechanism. The original buffer is still in place and it actually looks to be a butt plate that was separately installed below the cross guard. There is no washer present. A most interesting dagger here and quiet a rare sight these days. Once again you have to know what it is to appreciate it and if you don't I suggest you look for a prettier dagger further on down in my offering.

   Excellent. $1,895

9. NAVAL #33221C 1st Model Naval Dagger – Alcoso

   As “type” collectors all ready know, Alcoso daggers are relatively difficult to come by, and an original 1st Model is almost impossible. I think that this is the first time that I have had an occasion to carry this elusive dagger. The hilt mounts are all of fine brass and are textbook Alcoco pieces. The gilding throughout the surfaces is very good throughout rating at about 85-90%. The pommel is a well formed example depicting cattails and reeds around its surfaces and below are a set of cresting waves. There is some good hand enhancing to the depictions and also a lot of hand pebbling to give them some relief. The crossguard below is a typical Alcoso type having the fouled anchor motif in the center block with the reverse center block having the diamond in the middle with floral devices around the diamond. The diamond used to be a familiar motif on imperial daggers but all Third Reich pieces eliminated it except for the Alcoso firm. You can see a crossguard identical to this example on page 296 of my naval book. The crossguards have fine acanthus leaf detail on both sides and the end buttons have good accent grooves with fairly long nipples at the end. As is normally the case with these Alcoso guards the end buttons are quite square-like. The grip is a fine off-white example in perfect condition. It is a celluloid over carved wood base. It is tightly wrapped with twisted brass wire. Decorating the hilt is a finely toned nylon portepee. This nylon has toned to a very desirable gold color and it is set in the original naval double reef knot. The knot has no fraying on it and it is complete with a slide and stem. These two parts have the traditional “V” weave and the lower ball is composed of yarn like nylon with a traditional standard stuffing. A fine looking hilt here! The scabbard is also an Alcoso type. It is a hammered example being in totally straight condition. The scabbard also has about 70 or 80% of the original gilt. It has the Alcoso style overlapping oak leaf bands with acorns in the mix. The eyelets are the triple serrated type and as is the usual with Alcoso these eyelets have small sleeves on each side so that the carrying rings do not bite into them as bad as they do eyelets with without the sleeves. The throat is retained by two domehead brass screws. On this Alcoso scabbard the lower chape button is also hammered to match. The blade of this example is a very fine double etched type which retains its original needlelike point and has outstanding nickel-plated finish. The nickeling is still nice and bright and this blade is in near full mint condition. It features on the obverse a fouled anchor in the center with floral treatment at the end. At the beginning of this blade is a fully rigged sailing ship flying ensigns and floating towards the viewer on a bed of sea plants. It is interesting to note that the original owner of this dagger has scratched his name into the obverse ricasso. It is, “Plassman”. This may be a good opportunity to research this original officer. The reverse blade depicts the floral motif at the end of the panels and the beginning area also has a fully rigged sailing ship floating on a bed of sea plants. The reverse ricasso is marked with the scales having the letters, “ACS” interspersed. Above the scales is the firm’s name in an arch and in block letters, “Alcoso” and the location city of, “Solingen” is below. The original leather washer is in place. This first model dagger must have been one of the last ones issued as this trademark is normally found on the traditional second model types. Either way a great original piece here.

   Excellent Plus, Plus. $2,895.00

10. NAVAL #33220C 2nd Model Naval Depot Dirk – WKC

    This WKC produced example is a Depot style, being the type stamped with serial number for accountability. It no doubt had a ball top at one time but now has the traditional WKC 1937 pommel. The pommel is the same as the example I show on page 269 of my naval book. This pommel depicts a half open-winged eagle looking to the viewer’s left. The bird has fine detail remaining to its eye, beak, breast feathering, wings, talons, wreath and raised mobile swastika. The crossguard is the narrow style used earlier in the late 1920s. An identical crossguard can be seen on the 1919 piece that I show on page 216 of my naval book. This crossguard shows some wear but all of the details are still very visible. It depicts fouled anchors on both sides of the center block and on the reverse the blade release button is a “drilled” type placed in the center. The quillon arms have good acanthus leaf decoration on their surfaces and the button ends have good accent grooves. The grip of this example is a carved wood base having off-white celluloid covering. This grip is in perfect condition having toned to a pleasing ivory color and is tightly wrapped with twisted brass wire. The scabbard is a lightning bolt type showing some signs of usage but not any real dings. The designs are still crisp to include the palmettes up and around the bands as well as the lightning bolts, ermine feet and acanthus leaves at the lower section. The bands of this example are the rope style having knots on the obverse only. The eyelets attached to the knot style bands also have engravings on their surfaces to simulate knots. The reverse throat area of the scabbard is property stamped, “O.406”. The “O” would stand for, “Ostsee” which was the Wilhelmshaven harbor. The blade of this example, as we often see on issued depot pieces, is a plain type featuring dual fullers on both sides. It has a good nickel-plated surface and retains its needlelike tip. This blade is in near full mint condition. It is stamped on the obverse with the maker’s logo being a knighthead over the firm’s initials, “WKC”. The original off-red felt buffer is in place. No naval collection is complete without a depot version.

    Excellent. $1,450.00

11. NAVAL #33724 2nd Model Naval Dagger – E. & F. Hörster

    This Hörster produced Naval Dagger is a textbook example. The dagger appears to be identical to the example I show on page 283 and page 284. The fine brass fittings throughout show some wear and do not have a lot of gilt remaining. There is however some gilt to be seen in the recesses throughout. The pommel depicts a fine half open-winged eagle which looks to the viewer’s left. This bird has an outstanding head detail to the eye, nasal area and the beak. The breast feathering is also a crisp checkering and the feathering to the wings, talons, as well as the wreath and raised swastika are excellent. The crossguard has the traditional fouled anchor center blocks and the acanthus leaves are excellent on both sides. The end buttons are nicely engraved and the nipples are the variety that stick out quite far, the same as seen on page 283. The scabbard is nice and straight throughout. Almost all of the gilding is gone from the scabbard but there are still some traces to be seen in the recesses around the bands and the throat. This straight-as-an-arrow is a lightning bolt style. It has outstanding stamping to the palmettes, the lightning bolts, the ermine feet and the acanthus leaves. This fine scabbard is equipped with high-off-the-surface bands. These bands have highly detailed oak leaves and acorns. They are equipped with triple serrated eyelets. The throat is a thicker type and it is retained by two fairly large original dome head brass screws. The grip of this example is an off-white type being a carved wood base. This grip is in completely perfect condition being nicely age toned. It is tightly wrapped with triple brass wire. The blade of this example is a double etched variety and is as nice as they come. This blade has mirror bright nickel plating retaining its needlelike tip. It is in full mint condition. The fouled anchor motif has all of the gray backgrounds accenting the raised portions. The obverse ricasso is stamped with the double ovals used early on by this firm. The ovals trap the firm’s name and location, “E.u.F. Hörster Solingen”. In the center is the large “H” which has a smaller “H” and “S” letter in between which is pierced by a sword. The original leather blade washer is in place. A nice Hörster naval dagger here showing usage of the period but absolutely no abuse.

    Excellent Plus. $1,395.00

12. NAVAL #33176C 2nd Model Naval Dagger – Puma

    The maker Puma is not seen too frequently with Naval Daggers, so it is a good one for those out there collecting “types”. This example has a fine pommel and crossguard identical to the piece shown on page 288 of my naval book. This pommel has great detail to the eagle’s head which looks to the viewer’s left. The breast feathering is also exceptional as is the nice curve to the half open wings as well as the vaulted talons. The wreath is nicely done with a high-off-the-surface mobile swastika. The crossguard is the traditional style having fouled anchors on both center blocks and acanthus leaf decoration on the quillon arms. The end buttons are nicely accented and have good long nipples at the centers. The blade release button is the drilled type and it is in the center of the reverse crossguard being a two-piece unit. Many times the button itself becomes lost from these two-piece units and thankfully this one is still intact. The grip of this example is a carved wood base having a celluloid covering. The grip is in perfect condition except for a small crack in the upper section. There is no material missing and this crack does not seem to be expanding so it is what it is and will have to be lived with by the next owner. There is an aluminum portepee wrapped about the surfaces of this hilt. The portepee is the wide cord style and it is very set in place showing some fraying to the upper loop and also a little to the knot obverse surfaces. The cord is also slightly frayed where it comes out of the knot. This knot has the cat’s anus style stuffing in the bottom. The scabbard is a fine hammered type. It is in straight condition throughout and has good raised off-the-surface oak leaf and acorn bands. The eyelets are a smooth type. The throat is retained by two dome head screws. This scabbard was cleaned by the previous owner but it should tone down shortly and will not have such a glisten to it. None the less it is a very nice scabbard here. The blade of this example is a double etched type. It still is mostly bright having just a few age spots in the surfaces. These are noticeable at the tip area where there is a little smudge on the reverse and a small pit on the obverse. The reverse ricasso area also has some damage but it does not appear to have ruined the plating just scratched the area. There are also a couple of pits on the obverse. I think I am making all of this sound worse than it is as overall this blade is not too bad grading at about excellent to excellent plus. The fouled anchor etch as all of the gray backgrounds and good detail throughout. The reverse ricasso is marked with the Puma cat within a diamond. Under the cat’s head is the firm’s name, “Puma” and under the diamond is the location city, “Solingen”. The original off-red felt blade buffer is in place. A difficult to find maker here and overall this dagger is quite desirable.

    Excellent. $1495.00

13. NAVAL#33176C 2nd Model Naval Dagger - Puma

    This very desirable dagger has some outstanding features, the best being the fact that it is equipped with a phenomenal ivory-like grip, but also it is a relatively scarce maker to find and is a nice dagger. The hilt fittings are exceptionally fine, still having outstanding gilt finish over the quality brass base. The pommel is a real beauty, being the same as I show on the Puma example in my navy book on page 288. This pommel also is the same as the (changeover) type pictured on page 229, left. The details to the eagle are exceptional, with its head looking to the left and its wings half open with deep recesses in the back. These recesses give a great look to the vaulted wreath which contains the mobile swastika. The gilding on this pommel is probably about 80% - 85%. The Puma cross guard is also a choice example, having about 90% - 95% of its original gild. It features the fouled anchors on both center blocks and the cross guard arms are decorated with acanthus leaves. The button ends have the larger nipples at the tips. This guard is the same as is shown on page 288. It is also interesting to note that the blade release button on the reverse cross guard is the “drilled” type. Most of the naval producers used a notched style button and few used the drilled type, as it required a two-piece button. Fortunately, both of the pieces are still present on this release button. On examining the grip of this example, at first I thought it was ivory as it has a great tone to it that suggests this material. After looking inside though, the grip is a celluloid over a carved wood base. It is a pretty example, having a minor crack that runs through the second upper rib but does not seem to threaten the rest of the grip and there is no material missing. Other than this, the grip is in perfect condition and is tightly wrapped with a gilded brass twisted wire. There is a nylon naval knot which is tied about the hilt of this piece. The nylon has not turned at all, so one would have to assume that this knot was put onto the dagger somewhere in the last decade or so. A good job was done however, and the knot is in the original tie and is in mint condition throughout. The scabbard shell is a fine hammered example. The brass is of highest quality and the peeming is beautifully done. There is about 80% - 85% of the original gilding still across these surfaces. The scabbard is equipped with bands of highly detailed oak leaves and acorns. The bands have eyelets which are triple serrated and have the small sleeves on the outside of the clearance holes to aid in the wear of the rings against the eyelets. This scabbard looks to me as though it was most likely produced by the Alcoso firm but since Puma purchased lots of their fittings, this certainly is not unusual to see. The blade of this example is a fouled anchor type which is actually not seen too often on Puma daggers. In addition, it has the later type trademark, being the cat within the diamond which was the same trademark used on the Puma Assault daggers. This fouled anchor etch is nicely done, with outstanding gray backgrounds. There is a little bit of smudge noticeable on the blade as well as just a little bit of light pitting around the reverse ricasso area, but otherwise, the blade is bright and in nice condition. This blade would grade at about excellent plus. As noted, the Puma trademark is the style with the diamond around the cat. Beneath the cat’s head is the firm’s name “Puma” and beneath the diamond is the location of “Solingen”. This blade is actually quite rarely seen, as I mentioned above. The blade is buffered by an off-red felt washer. A very interesting dagger here and a seldom seen producer.

    Excellent. $1,895.00

14. NAVAL#32811 Late 2nd Model Naval Dagger - Carl Eickhorn

    This Naval Dagger was produced after 1941 and since the blade factories were hurting for materials, it is the type of dagger that is equipped with the pot metal hilt fittings and steel based scabbard. The pommel is a typical Eickhorn example, being identical to the pommel I show in my Navy book on page 263. This pommel has good detail to the head, breast feathering, curved wings, talons, wreath and raised swastika in the center. The cross guard also has fine detail, being the same as page 266. The gilded surfaces are still mostly there but the sharp eye will pick up the fact that the more muted gold tone indicates a pot metal base as opposed to the earlier seen brass variety. The grip is a wood carved base with celluloid covering. This grip is in perfect condition, showing nice toning to the surfaces. It has tightly wrapped twisted brass wire. Gracing the hilt is an original aluminum portepee. This portepee is in perfect condition with no fray anywhere. It is very tight in the naval tie and probably was put on at some time after the war but nevertheless, is still fairly set in place. The fine portepee has the gray cat’s anus thread insert. The scabbard, as indicated, is a steel base type with gilded surface. The gilding remains at maybe about 90%. These late made Eickhorn scabbards have pressed out bands. In other words, the bands are not a separate piece of metal but were pressed out of the steel itself. (When you see these pressed out bands on brass scabbards, this is always a reproduction.) The scabbard is a lightning bolt type having good detail to the palmettes, lightning bolts, acanthus leaves and ermine feet. Despite the fact that it is steel, the design is the same as the earlier types and is identical to page 266, lower. The bands have fairly good detail to the oak leaves, but they are not off-the-surfaces as far as the earlier types would be. They are equipped with triple-serrated eyelets which show some minor wear. This scabbard is nice and straight throughout. Like most of the later-produced naval daggers, this blade is plain, not being etched. It reflects a fine nickel plated surface though, with good double fullers on each side. The blade shows only the most mild of wear and age and still easily rates in near full mint condition, retaining its needlelike tip. The reverse ricasso is stamped with the over-the-shoulder squirrel. Beneath the squirrel are the three words “Original Eickhorn Solingen”. The trademark stamping is the same as I show on page 266, center. This dagger is equipped with its original tan felt buffer. If you are collecting naval daggers, you need a late example and this one should fill the bill. It is reasonably priced.

    Excellent. $750.00

15. Carl Eickhorn

    This 2nd Model Naval Dagger by Carl Eickhorn shows some usage of the period but is still in collectible condition. It is textbook Eickhorn example having the same pommel and crossguard as I show in my navy book on page 263 and 266. These hilt parts are of highest quality brass construction and they still have about 50% of the gilded surfaces remaining. The pommel has nice detail throughout with an excellent head to the eagle as well as his breast feathering, wing feathering, talons, wreath and enclosed swastika. The crossguard has the standard fouled anchor center blocks and the crossguard arms have acanthus leaves which run outward. The button ends have good fluting which is around the circumference. The right arm of this crossguard has a minor crack at about the halfway point. This would be serious if it were a pot metal base but since these parts are brass base there is no danger of this crossguard breaking under normal circumstances. The grip is a fine celluloid over wood carved base. This grip has some nice toning throughout its ribs and it is tightly wrapped with double twisted brass wire. The scabbard is the standard lighting bolt type. It is identical to the book example on page 266. This scabbard does show some wearing signs but no real dents per se. There is a minor ding down by the chape button but it is not noticeable. The scabbard surfaces are deeply stamped with palmettes around the carrying band area and the lower portion is stamped with lightning bolts, ermine feet and acanthus leaves. The gilt to this scabbard is also about 50%. The overlapping oak leaves and acorn bands are still fairly crisp as are the triple serrated eyelets. The best part about this dagger though has to be the blade. This beautiful double etched blade is in stone mint condition together with its needlelike point. All of the frosting is behind the fouled anchor etch and the surfaces throughout are mirror bright. Beautiful new like blade here in full mint condition. The reverse ricasso is deeply stamped with the 1935-41 Eickhorn squirrel trademark. This blade is protected by a tan felt blade buffer which still reflects good edges. This is a fine dagger for someone who likes to get a feel for the period as well as have a super condition blade.

    Excellent Plus. $1,295.00

16. NAVAL #32739 2nd Model Naval Dagger with Hammered Scabbard and Orange Grip – WKC

    This desirable dagger is equipped with textbook WKC mounts. The pommel, crossguard and scabbard are the same as I show in my naval book on pages 269 through 271. The pommel and crossguard have about 85% of the original gilt over the fine brass surfaces. This pommel shows full detail to the eagle’s head, breast feathering, wing feathering, wreath and raised swastika. The same is true of the crossguards. This guard has a fouled anchor depiction in the center block with acanthus leaves decorating the arm surfaces. The crossguard quillons have endings with fluted edges and button tips. The grip on this example is a lighter color orange and is solid celluloid. This grip is in perfect condition being tightly wrapped with double twisted brass wire. Lots of original residue from the period is trapped between the wire and the lower rib areas. The hilt of this example is set off with an original to the piece nylon style naval knot. This knot is set in place with the original tie and really looks great. The toning gives it a nice gold look. There is no fraying on this knot only age. A fine hilt here! The hammered scabbard is nice and straight throughout having about 90% of the original gilt in the surfaces. The hammering is deeply done and is accented by the fine high-off-the-surface carrying bands. These carrying bands feature overlapping oak leaves and acorns which are flowing in a directing away from the eyelets. The eyelets are decorated with carved oak leaves typical of this producer. The throat is retained by two dome head brass side screws. The blade of this example is the fouled anchor type. It is still bright throughout but there are some age spots which appear in the etch of both sides and also on the ricasso. Perhaps these could be worked out slightly with some semi-chrome but unfortunately they are there. Other than the spots the blade is in choice condition still having its needlelike tip. This blade would grade about excellent. The obverse ricasso is deeply stamped with the knighthead trademark and has the firm’s initials below, “WKC”. There is a red felt buffer in place which is most likely a recently made example. Overall this is a fine naval dagger with many of the features demanded by collectors. If it had a slightly better blade it would grade higher and would sell for a much higher price. At any rate, it will make a nice addition to a not-so-fussy collector.

    Excellent Plus. $1,895.00

17. NAVAL #32636 Circa 1850s Austrian Naval Krummdolch

    This early Krummdolch or curved dagger comes from the 1850s and would have been worn by an Austrian naval officer or captain of the period. Krummdolch were worn by high naval officers prior to the establishment of an official naval pattern. Some examples of Krummdolch can be seen in my naval book on page 22 through page 24. These Krummdolch are extremely rare and to find one in this condition is a real treasure. This dirk is equipped with all nickel mounts. The pommel is in the shape of a lion head which faces outward to the left. The detail to the cat is phenomenal with lots of hand done engraving. The lion has a large upward pointing mane and behind the mane there are floral designs. The mount of the lion has a small tab with hole in it which has a small chain hanger. The chain hanger is also of nickel and has dual links which run to another tab affixed to the quillon end. The crossguard area has a extended langet which features a raised fouled anchor. The anchor is nicely detailed and has pebble patterns behind it. The crossguard arms extend upward on the left and downward on the right and the quillons end in the shape of acorn nuts. The grip is made of a hand checkered hard wood. It appears to be ebony to me and it is still crisp and remains in totally perfect condition. Wrapped about the crossguard area is a portepee. The portepee appears to be a German example to me. It looks as though it is of imperial vintage. The portepee is equipped with black cloth strapping which is decorated with triple wire stitching running the length. The stem is a bullion silver type and there is a flat metal stem which is covered with matching bullion crochet like material. The lower ball is acorn shaped and is made of yarn-like silver bullion with a black insert. This knot shows some mild age but no fraying or any problems. The method in which it is tied and the manner in which the knot is set in place leads me to believe that this portepee has been on the dagger for many years. The scabbard shell is made of black leather. It is beautifully curved going downward and rising to an upward position at the end. The leather has decorative twin lines which run the length of both sides and the reverse area is sewn up the middle. The scabbard mounts are produced of matching nickel. They have scalloped like designs on the edges that meet the scabbard shell. The three mounts consist of an upper center and lower and they are all plain with the exception of the scalloping. The upper and center mount are equipped with plain eyelets with standard carrying rings. The leather of this scabbard is still in choice supple condition. It shows some age but it has been well taken care of over the last 150 years. There is no rot or any problems on this leather shell. The curved blade perfectly matches the curve of the scabbard and goes in and out with ease. The blade is still nice and bright and it has a triple etched motif. The blade is produced with a single edge and a small return edge at the top. There is a wide fuller which encompasses the width of the blade with the exception of the edge area. This blade has never been sharpened or abused in any way. The obverse etchings at the top portray military implements to include cannons, drums, spears, etc. The implements are decorated with floral designs at the ends. In the center there is the double eagle with crown above signifying the Austrian crest. Below the eagle there are more floral devices and at the ricasso area there are crossed standartes with more drums and other war implements. The reverse blade is similar to the obverse with the exception that the center area portrays a raised fouled anchor. The spine has a series of decorative floral designs. I do not see any maker mark on the ricasso area. This blade easily grades excellent plus, plus to near mint. It is a true marvel to see a blade this old still retaining this fine condition. If you are a serious naval collector looking to acquire pieces representative of all European periods this Krummdolch would be an absolute “must” for your collection. Over the years I have been collecting naval dirks and have been looking for a German Krummdolch for the total length of time. I have never found one and have substituted a nice American example for the time being. This Austrian example would go extremely well also but I am going to hold out until I find a true German piece. Once again, this is a great opportunity for the advanced collector. A wonderful superb naval Krummdolch here! The dirk overall measures a mere 15 inches.

    Excellent Plus, Plus. $9,995.00

18. NAVAL #32453 2nd Model Naval Dagger with Fine Peened Scabbard – WKC

    This 2nd Model Naval Dagger is a most interesting piece, having fine WKC textbook hilt mounts. There is quite a bit of original gilt that remains in the recesses while the higher parts show patinaed brass base. The pommel is in excellent condition, still having good detail to the WKC eagle to include his breast feathering. The talons grasp a wreath with a vaulted swastika. The cross guard still has good amounts of gilding and presents the fouled anchor center blocks. The cross guard acanthus leaves as well as the button ends show nominal wear but still some gilt in the recesses. The grip is a fine off-white celluloid over a carved wood base. The celluloid is in perfect condition and is nicely age toned. This grip is tightly wrapped with twisted brass wire. There is lots of time and dirt residue which is trapped between the wire and the ribs. This always gives you something to contemplate as to where this dagger has traveled these many years. Additionally, this dagger is equipped with its original to the piece silver bullion portepee. Unfortunately, the portepee shows some fray in the upper areas of the upper loop and wreath knot loop as well as to the cords where they come out of the tie but still, this is another indication of the dagger’s travels. The rest of the portepee still looks good and the silver bullion has nicely patinated to a gold color. The stem and the slide have the bullion “v” weave decorations and the lower ball has bullion yarn-like covering with a cat’s anus stuffing. A hilt with real character here! The scabbard is also extremely interesting. It is a hammered example having hammered chape also. The eyelets have also been hammered as have the rings. What is slightly different about the scabbard is the fact that it has wide bands with vaulted borders. In the middle are raised out oak leaves and acorns. These bands are reminiscent of an earlier time. They look very similar to the bands that are shown on a 1920s three-quarter size dirk I show in color on page 171 of my Naval book. I have a feeling that this dagger may have once been an earlier example that was upgraded according to the times. At any rate, the scabbard exactly matches the dagger with the gold tones in its residues and the fine patinated brass look on the exposed areas. The throat is retained by two dome head side screws. As we would hope, the blade in this example is a fine double-edged type. It still retains its needlelike tip and it has outstanding frosting behind the fouled anchor scene. (I would almost expect to see a sailing ship blade but perhaps WKC always offered the fouled anchor type after WWI.) At any rate, this blade is still nice and bright and rates in full mint condition. The obverse ricasso is stamped with the knighthead trademark which is a Nazi period mark. It has the firm’s initials beneath “WKC”. The original off-red felt buffer is in place. A very nice dagger here with lots to look at and lots to contemplate about where it has traveled. A great piece here as a second or third addition to your naval collection.

    Excellent Plus. $1,550.00

19. NAVAL #31610 2nd Model Naval Dagger – F.W. Höller

    The hilt of this example is a class Höller product. The pommel and cross guard have about 50% of the original gilding over the good quality brass base. The pommel eagle shows some minor wear to the head of the bird, but the rest of the details are all there to his breast feathering, wing feathering, talons, wreath and swastika. This pommel is identical to the Höller example I show on page 278 of my Navy book. The cross guard features the fouled anchor motif on the center block of both sides and the detail to the acanthus leaves on the quillon arms is also outstanding. The quillon button ends have the longer nipples which is characteristic of this producer. This cross guard is the same as page 279. The grip is an off-white example. It is in perfect condition on the obverse, but does have a hairliner on the reverse. The crack, though, is at the upper portion and does not show too bad. This grip is tightly wrapped with brass springy wire, the usual for Höller and the same as page 278. The hilt is decorated with a 42cm aluminum portepee. This portepee is tied in the naval knot and is still in perfect condition. The lower insert is not the naval type but, nevertheless, we do see this type of knot on naval daggers. The scabbard of this example looks to me as though it is an Eickhorn. The scabbard, though, came with this dagger and I purchased it directly from the family of a veteran. Chances are, Höller ran out of scabbards and bought this piece from Eickhorn or maybe the scabbards got switched around during the war. It is hard to say, but examining the scabbard and the hilt it is obvious that they have both been together for a very long time. This scabbard shows a few wearing signs but no dents or dings. It features the lightning bolt pattern with good detail to the palmettes, lightning bolts, ermine feet and acanthus leaves below. The throat is retained by two dome head brass screws. The carrying bands show some minor wear to the oak leaves but the detail is still mostly visible. The eyelets have the triple serrated surfaces and they also show minor wear. The blade of this example is double-etched and has the sailing ship motif. It is the same as the blade I show on page 280. Although the blade is still bright, there is some age on the surfaces and a little bit of pitting on the center ridge just past the etch on the reverse. The details, though, to the fouled anchors and sailing ship motif are still pretty good and most of the frosting is still intact in the backgrounds. This blade grades at about excellent. The reverse ricasso is etched with the double ovals which contain the firm’s name and location “FW Höller Solingen”. Inside is the thermometer showing too many digits to count. The original leather blade buffer is in place. This is a naval dagger that was worn during the war and one gets the feeling of history looking at it and examining its fine features. If you are looking for a decent basic model at a reasonable price, this one should fill your bill.

    Excellent. $1,095.00

20. NAVAL #31687 2nd Model Naval Dagger – WKC

    This fine example has some very interesting aspects about it and is of highest quality production. The hilt parts are of all brass construction having excellent gilded finish. In fact, the finish is still 80-85% throughout. The pommel is one of the 1938 “change over” types and is identical to the example I show in my naval book page 229 right. This pommel is a real beauty having highly vaulted wreath with gilded swastika in the center and a very nice deep curl to the half open eagle’s wings. This pommel shows little wear and would have been a replacement for the early round ball pommel that existed on this dagger when it was first produced. The crossguard is a typical WKC example looking about the same as the one shown on page 274, center. The detail to the crossguard is still outstanding showing little to no wear. The center block anchors are nicely displayed as are the raised acanthus leaves on both sides of the crossguards. The end buttons are also still relatively crisp. The grip of this example is an appealing off-white color. It is in perfect condition throughout being a celluloid coating over a wood base. This grip is tightly wrapped with twisted brass wire. The aluminum portepee is nicely set in place and appears to have been on the dagger a long time. This portepee is in excellent condition showing only age but no fraying. The scabbard is also a fine desirable example. This scabbard is of solid brass construction having fine hammered surfaces. It too is an earlier form but is basically the same as the types made during the later 1930s the exception being the bands are slightly more narrow than the later types. These bands though are high off the surface depicting fine overlapping oak leaves and acorns. There is some mild wear to the bands but not bad. It is also interesting to note that the eyelets have had hand engraving to replicate oak leaves in their surfaces. This was a trait that is commonly seen on hammered scabbards by WKC. This scabbard looks nearly identical to the example shown on page 215 of my navy book. The scabbard is straight throughout with the exception of just the tiniest carrying hit at the bottom just above the button end. It is nothing however. The rings on this example are plain and the throat is retained by fine brass screws which are located fairly low down. The blade is a double etched sailing ship variety still being nice and bright throughout. The sailing ship etch is all there but it is starting to thin a little and is a bit difficult to see as the frosting is mostly gone from the backgrounds. Remember, this is an old blade that probably was wiped off many times by its original carrier as well as others who have owned the dagger after the war. The blade though still grades easily at excellent plus condition. It has a fine needlelike tip and the obverse ricasso is stamped with the knighthead logo. The logo is positioned over the firm’s initials, “WKC”. The original off-red felt buffer is in place. This is a very nice early WKC dagger which was probably originally produced about 1933 to 1935. It was worn by its owner with its original ball top pommel until that was replaced in 1938 with the eagle and swastika. This dagger shows a lot of nautical history here and is in very fine collectible condition. A great dagger here for those who know naval pieces and enjoy studying all their attributes.

    Excellent Plus. $2,295.00

21. NAVAL #31799C 2nd Model Naval Dagger – E. & F. Hörster

    This Hörster Naval Dagger is in good overall condition showing wear of the time but no abuse. The pommel and crossguard are cast of fine brass and still have excellent detail throughout. These hilt fittings are identical to the two Hörster hilts you can see in my navy book on page 284, upper. The pommel has excellent detail to the eagle’s head and breast feathering. The swastika is also nicely vaulted outward in the detailed wreath. The crossguard has excellent detail to the anchors on the center block. The acanthus leaves going out on the arms of the crossguards also have good hand done detail. The quillon ends have fine fluting and the nipples at the tips are the type that stick out quite far being exactly as the illustrated pieces on page 284 and 285. The grip is a fine celluloid over carved wood base. This celluloid is in outstanding condition throughout and it is tightly wrapped with triple brass wire. There is a naval portepee which is wrapped about the hilt. It is in the naval tie and shows some mild age but no fraying at all. I don’t know why this was done but it appears as though the portepee has been sprayed with some type of a gold paint. The portepee itself beneath the paint looks like the naval type so I don’t know why someone would do this but there it is. If you don’t like this knot you can certainly take if off or if you want you can try soaking the knot in a little bit of acetone and possibly the gold paint would come right off without hurting the cord. I have not done this because the dagger does not belong to me and is on consignment. The scabbard of this example is also a textbook Hörster. It is identical to the illustration I show at the bottom of page 284. This scabbard is a lightning bolt variety with good detail to the palmettes, to the lightning bolts, to the ermine feet and also to the acanthus leaves at the bottom chape area. The bands are quite high off the surface being the overlapping oak leaf and acorn mix. The eyelets are the triple serrated type. These mounts do not show a lot of wear. Except for a couple of signs of carrying towards the lower chape area the scabbard is nice and straight. The blade of this example is a double etched variety being the fouled anchor motif. Unfortunately though the blade has turned slightly gray over the years. Perhaps some of this could be polished out. The blade still has the needlelike tip and the etching is still quite prominent. With the gray surfaces though the rating is only excellent on this blade. The obverse ricasso is stamped with the Hörster trademark. Early on Hörster did stamping of the blades and later went to an etched logo. The two ovals contain the firm’s name and location, “E.u F.Hörster Solingen”. Inside is the large “H” letter with a smaller “H” and “S” within the letter having a sword pointing downward through the two middle smaller letters. The original leather blade buffer is in place. A good naval dagger here showing period use but still good and collectible.

    Excellent. $1,250.00

22. NAVAL #32171 Imperial Model 1902 Naval Dirk – Carl Eickhorn

    This Model 1902 Naval Dirk was apparently made during war time, as when it was new it had all gilded surfaces, but now after almost a hundred years there are only traces of the original gild here and there. The base is iron on the hilt fittings and the scabbard is steel. This dagger looks identical to the example I show on the bottom picture of my navy book on page 97, right. The pommel is the style with raised up finials. The finials still have good detail with a simulated cross on top. The cross is actually a square shape and this was done to prevent the mount from tearing the delicate fabric of the uniform. The lower pommel has the eight domed panels that depict alternating Prussian eagles and crosses. The upper part of the pommel visible within the finials has the standard checkering with dots. The detail to this pommel is quite good considering it is an iron base. There are small amounts of the original gild still visible throughout the parts. The crossguard is a matching iron variety having center blocks of fouled anchors with random pebbling behind. The crossguards are actually four sided and they go outward from the center block and then turn into capstan ends. These capstans represent the metal cleats that the ship’s ropes would be tied around when docked. The crossguard is in excellent condition throughout and also has tiny amounts of gild if you really look hard. The grip is a most beautiful ivory being in perfect condition. This grip has a most interesting grain to both sides and it has also turned a very pleasing golden color. The grip is tightly wrapped with twisted steel wire. It is interesting that the war effort negated the use of brass but apparently there was still a pretty good stock of ivory as we often see these iron pieces with genuine ivory grips. A very fine hilt here and if you are collecting imperial navies you need an iron example to enhance your collection. The reverse of the crossguard has a blade lock button and even the button is made out of iron. The scabbard of this example is a lightning bolt type. It looks very similar to a Third Reich scabbard the only real noticeable difference other than the fact that the finish is steel, is that the upper band is positioned closer to the throat than we see them during the Third Reich period. This dagger has the engraved palmettes on either sides of the bands and it is interesting to note that the round circle at the bottom of each palmette seems to be made with a dot pattern rather than being stamped into the finish as the later pieces were. The lightning bolts are all there, the ermine feet below show some wear and they also have a dot pattern within and the acanthus leaves have the pointed tops that we often see on imperial scabbards. This scabbard had a small kink dent on both sides of the area between the bands but we were able to successfully remove this and there is little sign of it. The bands are fashioned of overlapping oak leaves and acorn mix. They still have excellent detail throughout. The eyelets are the smooth type nicely matching the carrying rings. It is interesting to note that the throat is retained by dome head brass screws as apparently there was a supply of screws that held out longer than the brass for the dagger’s mounts. The blade of this example is a standard length being just over 8 ½-inches. Lots of collectors compare the blade length with the length of the scabbard and wonder why the blades are shorter than they were during the 1930s. The reason for this was that balance weights were not used in the bottoms of the scabbards during the imperial period. The dagger had to be balanced on its own therefore the blades were made shorter to keep the weapon at a forty-five degree angle when hanging from the rings. This blade is a fine double etched example. The blade is still mostly bright and retains a good sharp tip. The etching on the blade is most interesting as this etch is strictly an imperial motif. At the center area is a crown over some type of a wreath and below this is a series of rope in a circle. At the ricasso area is a fully rigged sailing ship flying an ensign at the top. A close look at the ensign will reveal that the etch actually depicts the imperial war flag. As I say the etching is very crisp and concise and with a loupe you can really see all of the detail. The etch ends at the end with a floral style pattern. On the reverse blade the etch is nearly the same except instead of the crown there is an imperial war flag in the same place. The rest of the etch appears to be pretty much the same having an additional sailing ship at the bottom ricasso flying two ensigns. A great blade here and fun to own something like this if you are interested in German naval history. These etchings literally tell the story of Germany and its great ships with its Kaiser led fleet. The reverse ricasso is stamped with the imperial trademark used by Carl Eickhorn being two back to back squirrels. Beneath the two rodents are the initials of the firm, “C.E.” The original brown leather blade buffer is in place. A very fine dagger here and an excellent addition to any imperial collection.

    Excellent Plus. $1,695.00(#070111)

23. NAVAL #31587C 2nd Model Naval Dagger - Puma

    This 2nd Model Naval Dagger is by the rarely seen producer Puma. It is a textbook example and is identical to the piece that I show in my Navy book on pages 286 and 287. The pommel of this dagger has outstanding detail to the eagle’s head, breast feathering, wing feathering, talons and raised wreath with swastika. The pommel is the same as the book piece except that on the book piece, the swastika has had some damage whereas this piece is perfect. The cross guard is also the same as page 287. This guard features fouled anchor center blocks on both sides with good detail to the acanthus leaves on the quillon arms. The quillon ends have good deep lines and end buttons. The blade release button is the two-piece type and it is the style that is drilled into the surface rather than notched in. It is the same as the cross guard shown in the center picture on page 287. The grip is an off-white example. This grip is most attractive and is in perfect condition. The grip is tightly wrapped with twisted brass wire. The toning gives it a look of ivory. The lightning bolt style scabbard is straight throughout. This scabbard is also a textbook Puma. It features the engraved designs of palmettes over and under the carrying bands and below having the lightning bolt, ermine feet and acanthus leaf designs. These engravings are identical to what is shown on the scabbard at the bottom of page 287. The bands feature overlapping oak leaves and acorns with only slight moderate wear. The eyelets have the triple serrated surfaces, also showing moderate wear. Like the book piece, the throat of this example is retained by headless flush mount brass side screws. The blade of this example is a double-etched sailing ship variety and is in the best condition you will see. It has quality nickel plating with 100% frosted panels. This mint condition blade features a highly detailed fully rigged sailing ship in the reverse center. The ship is placed over a mass of floral plants. The same floraling ends the panel. On the obverse, it features a fouled anchor in the center with an additional sailing ship at the lower. The upper etch is finished with floral designs. This blade is identical to the example shown on page 288. A real beauty here! The reverse ricasso is stamped with the early Puma logo. It features a cat’s head without the diamond positioned over the firm’s name and location “Puma Solingen”. The diamond logo did not come until later in the period. A very fine example here of a rarely encountered dagger type. For those out there collecting naval types, this dagger should be a real bonanza! A great, textbook example here!

    Excellent Plus Plus. $1,795.00

24. NAVAL #31717 2nd Model Naval Dagger - Carl Eickhorn

    This 2nd Model Naval Dagger is in excellent condition, showing signs of wear during the period but still being in very collectible condition. The pommel and cross guard are textbook Eickhorn types, being identical to the examples I show on pages 263 and 266. The brass based mounts have fairly good gilding throughout. The pommel has approximately 50% - 60% of the gilt and the cross guard has slightly more gilt. The pommel has excellent detail to the eagle’s head, breast feathering, wing feathering, talons, wreath and swastika. The cross guard has the usual fouled anchor center blocks with good acanthus leaves throughout the quillon arms. The end buttons are well done. The grip is an off-white celluloid over wood base. It is in perfect condition throughout and it is tightly wrapped with twisted brass wire. The scabbard that is with this example appears to be possibly a Hörster. It is identical to the example that I show on page 285. This dagger was purchased from a Vet family so that the dagger has always been this way since it came back from the war. This scabbard is an all brass example having fine hammering to the surfaces. The scabbard is nice and straight and the lower chape button has been left plain. The bands are the higher off-the-surface type and they show some wear to the oak leaves and acorn mix but the detail is still there. The eyelets are the smooth type, exactly like the piece shown on page 285. The throat is the thicker type having a fairly good cantilever over all sides. This throat is retained by two brass dome head screws. The scabbard still has about 20% - 25% of the original gilt. It is still clinging in the areas protected by the bands and the throat and there are also smatterings of gilt here and there on the surfaces. A fine scabbard here. The blade is a choice double-etched example having good, bright nickel plating. There are some very small age spots in some of the frosting but they are only in the form of minor discoloration, not pits. The fouled anchor etches are still bright and very prominent on the blade. The blade easily rates at excellent plus to near mint. The reverse ricasso is stamped with the over-the-shoulder trademark. The blade is protected by the original tan felt washer. This washer shows some breakdown on one side and the other side shows minor age but it is still basically all there. A nice hammered scabbard with double etch blade here for a reasonable price. If you are looking for one that has seen wartime experience but still will look nice in your collection, this one should fill the bill.

    Excellent Plus. $1,595.00

25. NAVAL #31254C 2nd Model Naval Dagger with Dedication - Carl Jul. Krebs

    This Naval Dirk is one of the very few that were made by Carl Krebs. In addition to its rare maker status the dagger also has a dedication on the obverse ricasso. Incidentally, yhis dagger is also pictured in my Navy book, on page 317. The dagger has excellent brass hilt mounts. These mounts do not appear to have a lot of gilding on them but it is also possible that they do not have a lot of gild to begin with as this dagger could be an NCO version. I say this because the blade is a plain type not being etched. At any rate, the pommel has nice detail to the eagle’s head, breast feathering, legs, wreath and raised swastika. This pommel very much looks like a WKC type. The crossguard is more of a generic variety which we see occasionally on Paul Weyersberg, Robert Klaas and other makers that did not producer a lot of naval daggers. These crossguards are identifiable by the small circle which appears on the bottom of the shaft between the two anchor plows. This crossguard has good detail to the acanthus leaves and the buttons on the end have fairly large nipple placements. This crossguard does not have a lot of gild either. The grip is a fine example being off-white celluloid over wood base. The celluloid is tightly wrapped with twisted brass wire and is in perfect condition. The scabbard matches the brass of the hilt fittings and it is the style that we see used with off brand type daggers. This lightning bolt scabbard has excellent detail to the palmettes around the bands and then to the lightning bolts, ermine feet and acanthus leaves at the lower section. The bands are a high off the surface type having fine detail to the oak leaves and acorn mix. The eyelets are the triple serrated type and they do show a little bit of mild wear particularly to the lower example. This completely straight scabbard has a throat which is retained by two flathead flush mount side screws. When the blade is pulled out of the scabbard it is interesting to note that this naval scabbard has metal runners instead of the usual wood. This is another trait that we often see on these off brand scabbards. The blade of this example is a real beauty being the plain type. It is equipped with double fullers and has a very high quality nickel-plated surface. This blade is easily in full mint condition. The obverse ricasso has a four line professionally done dedication. It appears to be engraved, not etched. The dedication is “Zur / Beförderung / zum / O.F.M. 1941”. Although I am not exactly sure of this dedication we believe that it means, “On your promotion O.F.M. 1941”. It is possible the initials “O.F.M.” represent a specific rank within the Kriegsmarine. “Oberfunkmaat” is a petty officer 2nd class radio man and this could very well be the rank to which this dedication refers. Since the petty officer would be an NCO this would also account for the plain blade. The reverse of the blade ricasso has the very seldom seen trademark of Carl Julius Krebs on a naval dirk. This trademark is an oval circle which has the firm’s name and location within the circumference, “Carl Julius Krebs Solingen”. Inside is the crown positioned over the capital letter “K”. The original leather blade buffer is in place. A most interesting extremely rare naval dirk here. A good opportunity to acquire something really nice for your collection.

    Excellent Plus. $1995.00

26. NAVAL #31134C 2nd Model Naval Dagger - WKC

    This 2nd Model Naval Dagger is in top condition and about as nice as you will see for a dagger that was actually worn. It is a classic WKC and has the same fittings as pictured in my naval book on page 269 and 270. The pommel is an outstanding example having maybe 80-85% of the original gilding remaining. There is little wear to the details and the bird’s head and breast feathering are still quite crisp. The talons, wreath and raised swastika are effective there being more gild on the swastika than the wreath giving it a great look. The crossguard has more gild on it than the pommel as it is partially protected by an in place portepee. This crossguard has the usual fouled anchor center blocks with acanthus leaves going out the quillon arms. The button like ends have typical engraved sections with small nipples. The grip is an off-white type being celluloid over wood base. The grip is in completely perfect condition and is tightly wrapped with twisted brass wire. The portepee attached to the hilt is firmly in place and is absolutely original to this piece. This portepee is the fatter style aluminum cord and it has the gray thread stuffing in the lower ball indicating it was designated for naval usage. There is no fraying to the knot just a little bit of usage signs where the cord comes out of the reef knot. It is always amazing to me how these thick cord knots were able to be tied. If you’ve ever tried to do this yourself you will know what I mean. The only way I finally found to tie them was to do them backwards! A very fine hilt here! The scabbard is also a real beauty. It is the lightning bolt variety and it has about 98% of its original gilded finish. The scabbard has deep engravings to the palmettes around the bands and at the lower end to the lightning bolts, ermine feet and acanthus leaves. The scabbard is completely straight. The bands are the high off the surface type and they have full detail to the overlapping oak leaves and acorn mix. The eyelets have the triple serrations and they too are still crisp. This scabbard is the same as is shown on page 270. The throat is retained by two domehead brass side screws. The blade of this example is the etched fouled anchor type. The blade has been quality nickel-plated and is extremely bright. All of the frosted backgrounds remain in the fouled anchor etches. The etch is the same on both sides have sea plants at the top area and an anchor at the lower area which is mostly covered by two snakes which are alternately wound around the anchor’s shaft. Below this is a floral device with lined backing. This blade shows only the most nominal of age and there is just a fraction of a stain on the reverse ricasso. The blade still has its needle tip and as far as I am concerned it is in mint condition. The obverse ricasso is stamped with the knighthead positioned over the firm’s initials, “WKC”. The original off-red felt blade buffer is in place having some age to the borders but mostly still being there. If you are looking for a choice conditioned naval dagger this one should fill your bill. These fine original naval pieces in this condition are getting extremely difficult to locate. Prices are also going up on them as not only are they getting rare but they are extremely beautiful.

    Near Mint. $1795.00(#102110)

27. NAVAL #31080 2nd Model Naval Dagger with Orange Grip and Hammered Scabbard - WKC

    This WKC produced naval dagger is nearly identical to the example that I show in my Naval book on page 366. On the caption I refer to the orange grip and hammered scabbard combination as an “enduring favorite” and I must say I have not changed my opinion. Many collectors are always asking for this specific grip color and optional purchase scabbard type. The dirk has choice quality brass mounts which are textbook WKC. These mounts are identical to the book piece. The pommel has very good detail to the bird’s eye, beak and breast feathering. The talons, wreath and swastika are also nicely depicted. The matching crossguard has a good center block featuring fouled anchors on each side. The quillon arms have decorations of acanthus leaves on their surfaces and the endings are composed of the fluted button type with nipples. The grip of this example is a very dark pumpkin color orange. It is very pleasing to look at and the grip is in totally pristine condition being tightly wrapped with twisted brass wire. Highlighting the hilt is an in place aluminum portepee which appears to be original to this piece. The portepee shows no fraying or any problems. It does not have the cat’s anus stuffing but nevertheless appears to be designated for naval usage. An outstanding hilt here! The hammered brass scabbard exactly matches the fine gilded brass tones of the hilt. This scabbard is in perfectly straight condition and the lower chape button is hammered to match. The scabbard is equipped with high off the surface WKC style bands which feature overlapping oak leaves and acorn mix. The eyelets are the type that are engraved with oak leaves being exactly like the eyelets pictured on page 366. The throat of this scabbard is retained by two dome head brass side screws. This scabbard is as pretty as the one on page 366. The blade of this example is mirror bright and features the double etched fouled anchor motif. The blade has a slight ripple at the tip where perhaps it was stuck into a tree or a piece of wood with this result. I don’t like to really mess with these as sometimes when you hit them with a hammer they break off because although very strong this Solingen steel can also sometimes be brittle. So best to leave this the way it is as it is not obnoxious and although I guess it does detract from the dagger slightly it is not a serious flaw. The otherwise full mint blade has beautiful frosting which nicely highlight the raised areas. These fouled anchor designs, in case you never noticed, actually have two anchors not just the one in the center. There is an anchor off of the ricasso which has a pair of serpents wrapped around it disguising its true shape. I bet if we asked collectors how many anchors there were in the fouled anchor pattern they would probably all say one on each side. Now you know a good question for “bar talk” the next time you meet with some other collectors. The obverse ricasso is stamped with the knighthead trademark which is positioned over the firm’s initials, “WKC”. The WKC firm tended to mark their blades on the obverse rather than the reverse as most other producers did. In the imperial pieces though these markings can be on either side. This beautiful blade is protected by an off red felt buffer. If you’re looking for a really attractive dagger and one that you only have to buy once this one should satisfy you. A real crowd pleaser here.

    Near Mint. $2,995.00

28. NAVAL #30814 2nd Model Naval Dagger - Carl Eickhorn

    This 2nd Model Naval shows quite a bit of usage as apparently the officer that carried it was around long before the war and most likely wore his dagger throughout the war perhaps as a desk person or someone not assigned to sea line duty. This dagger is a classic Eickhorn piece and it is equipped with a fine double etched blade. The hilt fittings are completely textbook being identical to the examples I show on page 263, 266 and 267 of my Naval book. The pommel and crossguard have good detail throughout and have approximately 50% of the original gild still in place. The pommel has excellent relief to the eye, beak, feathering, talons, wreath and swastika. The crossguard features the usual fouled anchor motif in the center blocks and the crossguard arms are decorated with acanthus leaves on both sides. The quillons end in buttons with nipples in the center. The grip is a wood base covered with an off-white celluloid. The celluloid has a pleasing color and is in perfect condition. This grip is tightly wrapped with twisted brass wire and it is easy to see that there is plenty of dirt and time that has been captured around this wire wrap and the groove provided in the ribs. The original to the piece silver bullion portepee is also in place. This portepee has long ago turned a gold color the way they do. It has some fraying at the upper loop where it is around the pommel and also just a tad at the top of the reef knot. It is also frayed where the cord comes out of the tie and the slide is starting to unravel. Not a great knot mind you but still a knot that speaks of this man’s time spent during his naval career. The lower stem has the “V” weave of the silver bullion and the knot below is still nice and tight and has turned totally gold. The insert has gone to time at the bottom. It is also interesting to note that the owner of this dirk put an extra knot into the naval tie perhaps to bring the bottom ball up a little higher. This is the first time that I remember seeing this extra looping and I must say it looks kind of good. A nice hilt here if you’re looking for realism and authenticity of the period. The scabbard is a standard lightning bolt type. Like the hilt mounts it probably has 50% of the original gild. It is still straight throughout having signs of carrying but no dings. The upper portion of the scabbard is stamped with the palmette designs which appear above and below the bands. At the bottom are the acanthus leaves which point upward and on top of them are ermine feet. Coming out of the ermine feet are the lightning bolts. The bands feature double overlapping oak leaves with acorn mix. These bands show mild wear on the obverse and quite a bit of wear on the reverse where they have swung against the trouser leg of this officer’s uniform. This kind of thing really talks to you and makes it fun to imagine where this dirk has been. The eyelets are the triple serrated type and just like the reverse of the bands the reverse eyelets have also most of the serrations worn off. The throat is retained by two dome head brass side screws. This scabbard is identical to page 266. Contrasting with the well worn outside of this dagger is a pristine inside. This double etched blade looks as though the original wearer never took it out of the scabbard. It retains its new-like mirror bright nickel-plated surfaces and has a needlelike tip. The fouled anchor etches are beautifully raised out with 100% frosted backgrounds highlighting them. A beautiful full mint blade here! The reverse ricasso is stamped with the 1935-41 Eickhorn squirrel. The original tan felt blade buffer is in place. Once again a very fine dagger here if you want something that shows the realism of the period but still has good collectible condition.

    Excellent Plus. $1395.00

29. NAVAL #30283 2nd Model Naval Dagger - Carl Eickhorn

    This 2nd Model Naval dagger reflects finest of brass parts throughout. The pommel and crossguard are the same as I show in my Navy Book on pages 263 and 266. The traditional Eickhorn pommel has excellent detail throughout the bird. The wings are half opened and have nice deep recesses which enhances the raised out swastika in the center. The crossguard has a fine center block featuring a raised out anchor. The crossguard quillon arms go outward and have nicely detailed acanthus leaves on their surfaces. They end in button style quillons also nicely detailed. The gilt on this dagger remains at about 50-60%. The grip has turned a darker tone than most of these celluloid-over-wood types do. It gives it a really great ivory look. This grip is in totally perfect condition and is tightly wrapped with twisted brass wire. Further enhancing the looks of the hilt of this dirk is the original silver bullion knot. The bullion of this knot has long ago turned a gold color. It is the style which has quite fat cord and these really look nice when they are set in place. This knot has not been moved in seventy years and really looks great still being in its naval tie. There is just the slightest of fraying where the cord comes out of the knot but it is not bad. The original slide seems to have gone to time but the stem is still all there having the “V” weave designs we often see on these. The lower ball is of silver bullion reflecting yarn like weave and the lower insert is the cat’s anus style we frequently see on knots designated for the navy. A great looking hilt here! The scabbard is the lightning bolt type. It shows some mild usage but there are no dents or problems. There is some wear to the gilding but I would say it still remains at maybe 70-75%. The scabbard portrays deeply engraved palmettes which are around the bands and below there are the traditional lightning bolts, ermine feet and acanthus leaves. The lower portion of this scabbard compares exactly with that shown in my Naval Book on page 266. The bands are nicely detailed reflecting double oak leaves with mixed acorns. The eyelets have the triple serrated type and they are still all there. The blade is a double etch type and it retains its needle like tip. This blade is nice and bright reflecting fine nickel plating. It has 100% of the original gray frosting in the backgrounds which really highlight the raised work of the fouled anchor etch. This blade is easily in mint condition. It is stamped on the reverse with the trademark used from 1935 through 1941 of the Carl Eickhorn firm. The blade is buffered by a felt washer showing some age but still all there. This is a fine naval dagger that shows some signs of usage but still preserves outstanding condition. A very collectible complete piece.

    Excellent Plus, Plus. $1595.00

30. NAVAL #30091 2nd Model Naval Dagger with Yellow Grip - WKC

    This WKC naval piece has textbook brass mounts. There is not much gilt that remains throughout these mounts but they are still in good condition having excellent detail. The pommel is a fine example being the same as I show on page 272 of my naval reference book. The eagle has the wrap around wings which in the center enhance a vaulted wreath with swastika. The crossguard is the traditional WKC style having center block anchor and quillon arms which go outward with acanthus leaves on their forward and backward sides. They end in button like quillons. The grip on this example is a most unusual solid celluloid type having a yellow mustard color. We see varying shades of orange on these solid celluloid grips but this is the first example I remember with this mustard color yellow. The grip is in perfect condition throughout and it is tightly wrapped with twisted brass wire. This is a great example for those who collect the different grip colors. This one would really stand out being a white and orange gripped piece. The scabbard of this example is a lightning bolt type. It shows some carrying time here and there but there are no dents. The bands are the high-off-the-surface variety and they reflect double overlapping oak leaves with acorns. The eyelets have the triple serrated surfaces. The stamped designs are very deep and reflect palmettes around the bands and at the bottom are the lightning bolts, ermine feet and acanthus leaves. This design is identical to the scabbard I show on page 271. The throat is retained by two dome head sided mounted brass screws. The double etched blade is a fouled anchor type and it is a beauty having needle point tip. The blade reflects quality nickel-plated finish and is still nice and bright. The backgrounds are the silver gray frosted type and they highlight the raised fouled anchor etch. This blade is in mint condition. It is stamped on the obverse with the knighthead trademark. The trademark is positioned over the firm’s initials, “WKC”. The original off-red blade buffer is in place. A fine example here of an unusual colored grip.

    Excellent Plus. $1895.00

31. NAVAL #28146 2nd Model Naval Dagger - Paul Weyersburg

    This 2nd model naval is the same as the Weyersberg piece I show on Page 292 of my Naval book. The fittings on the hilt of this dagger are of good quality solid brass. There is not much gilt remaining on them and they are mostly presented with a patination across the brass fittings. The pommel is extremely well done, having excellent eagle head, breast feathering and recesses to the half-open wings. The wreath is nicely vaulted as is the mobile swastika. The cross guard is the same as the book piece, having a rather large center block. This is typical of this producer. The center block features a fouled anchor on both sides and there are acanthus leaves which decorate the quillon arms. The quillons end with button-like line decorated motifs. The grip of this example is an off-white celluloid covering over wood base. The ribs travel downward from right to left and they are tightly wrapped with twisted brass wire. The original aluminum portepee is still gracing the hilt of this example. The portepee is tightly in its double reef knot. Sorry to say, there is some wear though to the surfaces of this knot, especially on the high points. The cord has just a tad of fray where it comes out of the knot. The slide and stem show age and wear and the lower ball is the type with yarnlike bullion. The insert has the cat’s anus stuffing. This naval knot does not do a lot to pick up the looks of this dagger, but if you are the type of collector who likes realism and the history of the period, this knot should stay on the dagger. It is also exciting to see the patination and green build up which shows beneath the areas where this knot has been in place for so many years. An interesting hilt here! The scabbard is the lightning bolt type and it, too, is like the book piece on Page 292. This scabbard has excellent detail to the engravings to include the palmettes on either side of the bands, the lightning bolts, the large ermine feet and the acanthus leaves at the lower. This motif is identical to Page 292. The bands are a high-off-the-surface type, featuring overlapping oak leaves and acorn mix. The rings are the triple-serrated type and the serrations are all there, showing only modest wear. The throat is a thicker style nicely matching the butt plate above. This throat is retained by two brass, flathead side screws. This scabbard shows some carrying time, but there are no dents in the surfaces. The blade is an interesting example, being double-etched. Usually, though, the naval blades will be nickel plated. This example is a polished style still having nearly all of the original factory cross grain in its surfaces. The etch is done nicely and has 100% of the gray background. The etch is not as bright as the plated type but, nevertheless, it is still crisp and still all there. This blade retains its needlelike tip and remains in mint condition. The reverse ricasso is etched with the double oval trademark. These ovals contain the firm’s name and location “Paul Weyersberg & Co Solingen”. Inside is a downward pointing sword positioned between two wheat shafts. The blade is buffered by a brown leather washer. An excellent naval dagger here with a rarely seen maker and having lots of history in its appearance.

    Excellent Plus, Plus. $1,195.00

32. NAVAL #28053 2nd Model Naval Dagger with Orange Grip - Unmarked Alcoso

    This 2nd Model Navel, despite the fact that the blade is unmarked, is a classic Alcoso piece. The pommel is identical to the pommel that I show on page 295 of my Navy book. This pommel still has good gilding to the surfaces, and is produced of finest quality brass. This dagger does not look to have been cleaned for many years. The detail to the pommel is exceptional, as the bird looks to the viewer’s left, with good checkering to his chest. His talons retain a raised out wreath, which has a vaulted mobile swastika within. A great look here! The crossguard is the typical Alcoso type, being the same as the example shown on page 297, and having the squared off ends. The obverse of the crossguard depicts the fouled anchor, while the reverse has the diamond shape with flared backgrounds. This is a typical Alcoso tradition, as no other 3rd Reich producer used this motif. The quillon arms have acanthus leaves which go outward, and the squared ends are fluted. The lower portion of the scabbard goes inward, causing the necessity of a butt plate to be used with Alcoso pieces. This butt place is in place, and exactly matches the size of the throat. The grip of this piece is exceptionally beautiful. It is a very dark pumpkin orange color, being just slightly lighter toned on the obverse than the reverse. This grip is in perfect condition and could not look nicer, being tightly wrapped with twisted brass wire. A very beautiful grip here, and very desirable by collectors. The original aluminum knot is still in place across the hilt of this piece. The knot is in the Naval tie, and it does show a little bit of wear through at the upper center cord areas of both the slip knot at the top, and the double wreath knot at the bottom. It is not bad though, and if anything, gives character to this piece. The lower ball has a textured fabric stuffing, not being the cat’s anus type, but we do see this occasionally. This knot is definitely original to this dagger. The scabbard is also a textbook Alcoso type, being identical to the scabbard that I show on page 299. It is a lightning bolt design, showing some wear to the surfaces images. The lightening bolt features pommettes around the bands, with lightening bolts at the bottom, with ermine feet separating these from the lower acanthus leaves. It is also interesting to note that Alcoso made their acanthus leaves with points at the top, and no other 3rd Reich producer did this. The bands are overlapping oak leaves with acorn nicks. These bands do show some mild surface wear. The eyelets are also typical of Alcoso, in that they have sleeves coming out of both sides of the triple serrated surfaces. These sleeves are also unique to this producer. If you know some of these facts, it would be very difficult to not buy a proper Alcoso dagger. The scabbard gilding is only about 25%. This scabbard, though, is straight throughout. The throat is retained by two flatter head side screws. The blade is a most desirable sailing ship type. In fact, this is the style we normally see with Alcoso daggers. This blade has good nickel plated finish, with fine frosted backgrounds to the etch. The obverse features a fouled anchor in the center, with the sailing ship depicted below, seated on a sea of plants. Above are more floral devices. On the reverse, the sailing ship occupies the center of the blade, and is again resting on a sea of floral branches. The detail is nice, and the viewer can see the sails and the ensigns flying from each mast. This blade would be in near mint condition, but there is a little ripple at the end, where apparently it had been stuck in a tree at one time or another. It might be possible to straighten this, but that is not something that we could personally do. The needle-like tip, though, is still there. This unmarked blade is definitely an Alcoso type. It has been protected by an in-place off-red felt buffer. This is a very Naval dirk for someone looking for rare pieces, as well as a choice orange grip to light up their display.

    Excellent Plus. $1,695.00